Workplace Harassment to women and Its Relation to the Type of Work, Sociological Field Study in the City of Erbil

Abstract

This research examines the influence of harassment on identifying gender roles for women that is how could harassment could influence women’s psychology and mental status and their work pursuit at workplace. The research further examines the effects of harassment on women at workplace, including the implications for women to proper face and deal with harassment. The research applies the qualitative method of data collection, using semi-structured interviews with a targeted sample of interviewees. The sample interviewees consist of four women who are selected form different professions in Erbil city. The research concludes that harassment could be found in all types of workplaces in all sectors of work, but its intensity varies according to the gender roles and positions that women fall under. Despite the psychological pressure of harassment, eventually women tend to adapt to a special form of coping mechanism to deal with this problem, so that they can pursue and continue to attend to their work and still maintain normal social values.