Sexual harassment is on the rise, and despite changes in several laws, this crime is spreading at a rapid rate. Be it your home, your workplace, or any public place, women are not safe from sexual harassment. This is because the issue is rooted more in the cultural fabric of our society, rather than in the inadequacy of the legal framework.
Resultantly, women are bearing the brunt of this egregious phenomenon that has both physical and mental health consequences. Just refer to the census bureau harassment and how much it bothered us, and honestly, this qualifies as a minor nuisance in comparison to the ignominy of sexual harassment.
Therefore, to elaborate on the gravity of the situation, we have listed here six adverse health effects of sexual harassment on women, which are backed by substantial empirical evidence.
1. Depression:
According to a study conducted by Blackstone, women who are sexually harassed tend to experience depression for most of their lives. Moreover, they tend to develop feelings of self-doubt, which in the long run, can mutate into self-blame. It is the typical victim mentality that she starts to blame herself because that is the variable she can control in the ongoing mental chaos.
2. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
Multiple studies have found an empirical link between sexual harassment and symptoms of PTSD, which includes revisiting the trauma repeatedly and avoiding the elements of routine life that remind the victim of the trauma.
3. Hypertension:
Sexual harassment incites physiological reactions like stress and anxiety, which can lead to hypertension that, in return, is linked with the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. According to a study conducted among the union workers in Boston, researchers have found those women workers hypertensive who have complained of being sexually harassed at least once.
4. Insomnia:
Insomnia is empirically linked with sexual harassment. Sexual harassment causes anxiety and stress to the victim. Resultantly, a victim may experience sleep disturbances due to recurring nightmares.
5. Suicidal tendencies:
A study conducted on Canadian high school students reports that there is a strong correlation between sexual harassment and suicidal tendencies. This is because 15% of women who experienced unwanted sexual contacts stated that they have tried to commit suicide multiple times in the last six months.
6. Substance Abuse:
Constant reminders of the trauma compel the victim to depart from reality, which is why substance abuse is quite common among victims of sexual harassment. Moreover, substances like alcohol and drugs may offer temporary relief, but they are incredibly toxic for almost all the major organs of the body.
7. Physical Damage:
Most violent sexual harassment happens in abusive relationships where women are prone to incur both short term and long term injuries repeatedly. Short term injuries may include bruises, welts, broken bones, minor bleeds, and neck pains. In contrast, long term injuries may consist of major internal and external bleeds, STDs, and gynecological issues, such as the potential inability to conceive anymore.
Therefore, sexual harassment is an urgent issue and must be aptly addressed, and if you are in an abusive relationship or are sexually harassed in the workplace, hire a competent lawyer like Attorney Ravi Sattiraju, who will fight for your rights.
