Gendered Violence

What is gendered violence?

Gendered violence is a serious occupational health and safety issue.If you are made to feel uncomfortable, unsafe, threatened, ashamed, inferior, excluded, embarrassed or humiliated because of your sex, gender, sexual orientation, or because you do not adhere to dominant gender stereotypes or socially prescribed gender roles, that is gendered violence.

It can include many things such as, but not limited to:

  • Stalking.
  • Intimidation.
  • Verbal abuse.
  • Rude gestures.
  • Offensive language and images.
  • Sexual harassment.
  • Physical assault (including sexual assault).
  • Put downs, innuendo and insinuations.
  • Ostracism and exclusion.
  • Being undermined in your work or position.

The AWU will not tolerate for any form of workplace harassment, and that includes gendered violence.

So if it is happening to you or a workmate, don’t stand for it. Tell the boss, contact your AWU delegate or Health and Safety Rep, or join your union. And in an emergency, call 000.

How can it affect me?

Gendered violence can cause you physical, psychological or financial injury. These include things like:

  • Isolation, loss of confidence and withdrawal.
  • Stress, depression, and anxiety.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • Financial loss (if a worker has to quit).
  • Family dislocation and disruption.
  • Physical injury.

Many workers don’t report gendered violence due to fear, lack of support, and failure of an employer to act on reported incidents, so they continue to be exposed to violent behaviour and harassment.

Is it happening to you, or a workmate? If so, contact your AWU delegate or Health and Safety Rep, or send us a confidential message.

What causes it?

Sometimes, gendered violence can be the result of what’s happening in your workplace. This could look like:

  • A work environment where aggressive and violent behaviour is accepted and rewarded, encouraging other workers to act that way.
  • A power imbalance between men and women;
  • A culture of sexism and norms in the workplace that may encourage gendered violence.

We need to stop it! Need information, advice or support? Contact your AWU delegate or Health and Safety Rep, or send us a confidential message.

Can it happen to me?

Anyone can experience work-related gender violence.

In many workplaces, women in the workplace are among the most likely targets, especially those who are: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; are migrants or refugees; or have a disability.

If you or a workmate are experiencing gendered violence, or just need information, advice or support, contact your AWU delegate or Health and Safety Rep, or send us a confidential message.

Shouldn’t the boss do something?

Yes. Under workplace health and safety laws, your employer must provide you and your workmates with a safe work environment by eliminating physical and psychological risks.

This includes standing up against any form of workplace violence.

As a bare minimum your employer should:

  • Maintain a safe and inclusive work environment that promotes gender equity.
  • Denounce disrespectful behaviour, and take appropriate action against perpetrators.
  • Provide a clear process for workers to report unwanted behaviour.
  • Adjust work systems and the environment to eliminate exposure to gendered violence risks.
  • Support workers and provide referral information for additional support.
  • Maintain confidentiality for anyone who reports the incident, and workers who report an incident should not face repercussions.
  • Provide information and training on gendered violence and how it can be minimised.

Is your boss turning a blind eye to gendered violence? Contact your AWU delegate or Health and Safety Rep, or send us a confidential message.

Should I care?

It’s up to us all to do something about workplace gendered violence.

So don’t just stand there and be a silent victim or witness.

Keep your eyes open for any warning signs that it is happening at work, and report all incidents you see or even hear about.

And collect evidence, such as keeping a diary of any incidents of gendered violence directed at you and/or your workmates.

Need more information, advice or support? Contact your AWU delegate or Health and Safety Rep, or join your union. And in an emergency, call 000.

Be a part of our community.

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Stronger together.

 

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