In most cases of sexual harassment that catches the public's attention, it usually involves a rich or prominent businessman or government leader. The reality of sexual harassment though, is that it happens to average people on a daily basis all over the country. If you're not a victim of sexual harassment you may not even care that it's going on, but with any sex crime, the repercussions for the victim are immense.
Women working in nearly every field and of every ethnicity experiences sexual harassment at some point in their life. Some case studies have reported that girls as young as seven have been sexually harassed in school or in the street. This trend continues on into older ages and even into the workplace.
Minority women are one of the largest groups of sexually harassed women in the US. For instance, a poll was completed regarding the southern US farming industry. The result of the poll reported that over 75% of the women working in farms, mostly of Latino heritage, called sexual harassment the main problem of working.
In 2011, over 1/3 of all sexual harassment claims were filed from inside restaurant establishments. The complaints and charges were filed against both employees and customers. Over 20% of the victims of restaurant-based sexual harassment were of Latino descent, making a widening circle of discrimination for the minorities among our great country.
It stands to reason that women and immigrants are the most susceptible to sexual harassment and other labor issues in the low wage areas of employment. Another scary result of a survey conducted by the SPLC reports that half of the deaths that involved Latino women at work were due to assaults and/or sexual attacks.
Regardless of the political standpoint, no human being deserves to be attacked or beaten, sexually or otherwise. It is up to us, as a nation of laws, to respect peace as much as humanly possible while enforcing our laws to the best of our ability. We could say, simply, just speak up and stop the abuse right when it starts. This seems like a simple answer, but it can be just the opposite.
In the real world, it can be quite a complicated one. In the case of immigrants, especially of Latina origin, speaking up could get them deported, or at least risk it. That could take them thousands of miles away from their families and children, negating the purpose of risking everything to come here. To lawful American immigrants, it can seem like a short cut, but huge amounts of risk were still involved. Going back is not an option for many, or for their families.
Because of this, and despite the story behind illegal immigrants in general, it is important to protect the growing number of harassed and abused Latinas in the workplace. To do this, the LCLAA has decided to create the Trabajadoras Campaign. The group wants to use a "gender lens" to work out sexual harassment and abuse problems for Latinas in the workplace all over the country.
source: www.huffingtonpost.com