Barbados Against Sexual Harassment At Work Place

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One Caribbean Nation.
National Flag of Barbados

The Mahogany Coconut Group welcomes the recent legislation, by the Barbados Government, in the form of the Employment Sexual Harassment Prevention Bill, that will seek to curb sexual harassment at the work place. MCG is not surprised at the opposition to the Bill because we have maintained that certain cultural habits, do not disappear overnight. What we find particularly disappointing, is the reaction of some females, which suggests that they are seriously unaware of their rights. And  have perhaps accepted, that the disrespectful behavior of some men in the work place toward them, is just a part of our culture.
Obviously, the current political atmosphere, with general elections in sight, guarantees that some political objection would emerged but at least the official Opposition has thrown its weight behind the bill.  We have seen the same diatribe in relation to legislation dealing with domestic violence and child abuse , simply because we come from a culture which assumes that women bring such violence upon themselves. There is still an age-old position, that women who dress scantily are literally asking to be raped or disrespected. It is now being said that they use their bodies to achieve professional advancement and when they fail, claim that they have been harassed.
A similar position is also held in relation to under aged girls who are physically and sexually abused. In at least one Caribbean country there is a saying that “after twelve it is meal time”. It implies that a female past the age of twelve is ready for sex. In Trinidad and Tobago, it is now illegal to marry children, under the age of consent because it was accepted by some religious groups.
 It is therefore safe to say that regional governments are moving to ensure that our girl children and women are protected against certain abusive acts, that were once almost considered the norm.

We urge all regional governments to continue on the path of protecting our girls and women.

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