Background
Methods
Study setting
Study design
Study participants
Sample size and sampling techniques
Data collection
Data analysis
Data quality management and assurance
Results
Sociodemographic characteristics
IDIs (n = 10) | FGDs (n = 35) | |
---|---|---|
Mean age (SD) | 24.4(±4.88) | 24.83 (±3.30) |
Educational status | ||
Primary education | 1 | 4 |
Secondary education | 8 | 28 |
College and above | 1 | 3 |
Mean years (SD) of experience | 2.8(2.15) | 2.42 (±1.64) |
Raised area | ||
Urban | 3 | 26 |
Rural | 7 | 9 |
ID | Profession/position | Educational level | Experience (year/s) |
---|---|---|---|
KI1 | Cashier | 10th grade | 2 |
KI2 | Cashier | 10th grade | 5 |
KI3 | Cashier | 8th grade | 6 |
KI4 | Cashier | Degree holder | 1 |
KI5 | Merchant | 4th grade | NA |
KI6 | Driver | 10th grade | NA |
KI7 | Driver | 10th grade | NA |
KI8 | Tour guider | 10th grade | NA |
KI9 | Supervisor | Diploma holder | 2 |
KI10 | Manager | Degree holder | 6 |
KI11 | Manager | Degree holder | 7 |
KI12 | Manager | Degree holder | 10 |
KI13 | Manager | Degree holder | 4 |
Perception of sexual harassment
Pressuring for sexual advances
“Sexual harassment is a condition in which women working in [hospitality workplaces] are pressured to do sexual activities without their will. Mostly, they may be tricked through tips, another unnecessary gift, or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favours.” (25 years, IDI, four years of experience in a cafeteria).
“Sexual harassment is the supervisors’ or owners’ action that can be explained by providing money, and promising rewards, and promoting for a better job situation with a better salary scale in exchange for advanced sexual favours.” (FGD, two years of experience in a restaurant).
Threatening for a sexual advance
“Sexual harassment is identifying the women’s weak side that makes it difficult to overcome the sexual requests. The soft parts could be her financial problem, her relative, or her beloved one. So, I think sexual harassment is expressed by threatening to hurt her relative or beloved one, complaining about her service provision performance to her immediate boss, threatening to fire her from a job, and not paying for the services unless we accept his sex requests.” (IDI, four years of experience in a cafeteria).
Touching sensitive parts of the body
“Touching the breasts, hips, and genitalia, slapping the hips and the face, requesting sexual intercourse, commenting on physical attributes, and inviting dining and requesting sex are some of the things at which sexual harassment can be explained.” (IDI, 1-year experience in a cafeteria).
“I believe sexual harassment is explained by … , winking, and undermining me considering my gender.” (FGD, two years experience in a restaurant).
Abducting for sexual intercourse
“Oh! I think sexual harassment is rape or abduction.” (FGD, four years of experience in a cafeteria).
“… sexual harassment could be explained by spitting of drinks, slapping, pinching, caressing, talking unnecessary sexual talks, and talking and distributing false things about me to the manager.” (FGD, five years of experience in a cafeteria).
Experiences of sexual harassment
Verbal experience of sexual harassment
“When we refuse to give our phone number to them, they will call the manager and falsely accuses us of not serving them properly. If we explain ourselves as we had a husband, children, and family, they will put the bill bag upside down.” (FGD, two years of experience in a cafeteria).
“When I was in a bar, unwanted sexual acts such as fondling, undermining, pushing us towards undesirable sexual acts using money and intimidating. The perpetrators did not realise that we were working for survival. As per their understanding, we all are doing transactional sex to get money from them.” (IDI, 1-year of experience in a bars).
“.... I experienced many things regarding sexual harassment. Some customers spit on me, fondles me, kicked my hip, touched my breasts, and tried to kiss me forcefully. Some also wait for me after I finished my job and threatened me to spend the night with them and engaged in sexual intercourse with them. Generally, it is the workplace where we gain when we are unable to get another option.” (IDI, four years ofexperience in a restaurant).
“Ha … ha … ha … [starts to laugh] … Then, he asked me to eat dinner with him, requested me to spend the night with him, and asked me to have sexual intercourse with him.” (IDI, three years of experience in a lodge cafeteria).
“On one occasion, a famous and rich man approached me. He has been my customer, and he mostly gave me an exaggerated tip for me. He has a marriage ring on his finger. Mostly he had been with his friends. Only later, sometime, he started to become lonely. I served him as usual. … One day, he requested my telephone number, called for me, and requested me to accompany my dwelling house. I did not hesitate; I handed him my telephone number. He called me later at night. I talked to him in detail. He informed me that he was not happy with his spousal relationship. He told me that he could change my life. He also promised to open a business centre and invited me to have sex with him. Merely, I turned down upon his request. Also, I told him to keep confidential what he requested.” (IDI, two years of service in a cafeteria).
Nonverbal experience of sexual harassment
“… Leaving their phone number on the bill, winking, gazing, and so on.” (FGD, two years of experience in a cafeteria).
“Most of the things that I experienced in the hospitality workplaces are … , showing pornography movies, writing a message on the bill, winking, … , and other gestural signals.”(IDI, two years of experience as a waitress in a hotel).
Physical experiences of sexual harassment
“Most of the activities I experienced in the hospitality workplaces are, … , pinching, fondling, touching the buttocks and the breast. There are also winking, … , and other gestural signals of erotic request.” (IDI, two years of service in bars).
“…. Some came to the organisation for the first time, touched my breast, touched and slapped my hips, fondle me, forced me to kiss, and touched my sensitive sexual parts, ….” (21 years, IDI, two years of experience in a cafeteria).
Who is responsible for the perpetration?
“The local old and wealthy guys are a more challenging group. …. They tried to take us to very unusual places … , which is far from the populated area.” (FGD, three years of experience in a cafeteria).
“Mostly married and older adults are the perpetrators. Those people, for the most part, went to restaurants to recruit girls for sexual harassment. They ordered something and did not use what they ordered. Instead, they harassed us and asked for sexual intercourse. We know them, but they removed their marriage ring and coming to us, simulating that they did not marry.” (FGD, three years experience in a cafeteria).
“Old men like me just shaved their beard, have brokers whom they will bring girls from hospitality workplaces and universities. Brokers are doing senseless work. The low-income family sends their daughters to work and universities, but brokers bribing women and girls and sell them to elderly people whom they want to have sex with.” (Customer, KII, Merchant).
“When we apply for the job as waitresses, the first question which is going to be asked by the manager or supervisor is not educational status, and it is not the work experience; it is a willingness to have sex with him.” (FGD, six years of experience in a restaurant).
“The head waitresses also harass us, and receptions/cashiers are the sources of our address for the perpetrators. The receptions and cashiers will be given our address to get money and other incentives.” (FGD, three years experience in a bar).
There are two types of waitresses. The first group is women who have family, marriage, and children. This group needs their job and help their family. The second group is young women who have no family. This group mostly does transactional sex for covering their expenses to rent a home, buy food, cosmetics & cloth, and sometimes create a link between the perpetrators and the victims. By the way, this is because of the lower salary paid by the hospitality workplaces. Perpetrators considered all waitresses like the second group.” (IDI, two years of experience in a cafeteria).
Perceived risk factors of sexual harassment
Customer-related factors
“The customers perceive that all waitresses are transactional sex workers or commercial sex workers, and they ask us to have sex with them using their money.” (IDI, two years experience in a restaurant).
“One of the driving factors is that most of the waitresses engaged in commercial sex work and customers perceive that all are interested in this work.” (FGD, five years experience as a waitress).
“Sometimes, I think that they are addicted to having sex. Since they are married, they can get sex with their wives. However, they came to us to do the same thing with their money. Most of the married perpetrators try to convince me that cheating is healthy and has no problem.” (IDI, two years experience as a waitress).
“Perpetrators approach the women and identify the women’s weak side to get an easy way for their request. The weak parts of most women are finance/money, relatives, or their darlings. As a result, the perpetrators threaten us to agree to their sexual requests, or they will harm our relatives/darlings and will not pay for the services that they used.” (FGD, three years experience in a cafeteria).
“After all, in a big hotel or small catering, waitressing is considered less critical work by the customers. Some waitresses are also considered non-civilised. Rarely do some customers only understand the job and the workers. However, some classified us as commercial sex workers.” (FGD, three years experience in a bar).
Victim-related factors
“… Due to the lower salary, we sometimes engaged in sexual activity for the compensation of our economic problems through the perpetrator’s money.” (FGD, two years experience as a waitress).
“Most of the time, they gave direction about customer handling and other issues that affect their business. Sexual harassment is not their business.” (FGD, two years experience in a bar).
“The pre-work instruction document in hospitality workplaces states all about time management, uniform, customer handling, and others that mainly to maximise their benefit. It is not mentioning anything to keep the right of the women working in these workplaces.” (FGD, four years experience in a restaurant).
“We are expected to be very friendly and communicative for customers. However, this may lead to a casual relationship.” (FGD, three years experience in a bar).
“… , women’s natural beauty and their welcoming approach makes them more vulnerable to sexual harassment.” (KII (customer), driver).
..., young women who do not have a family have transactional sexual relations to cover their expenses related to home, rent, food, cosmetics and clothing. By the way, this is because of the lower salary paid by the hospitality workplaces. Perpetrators considered all waitresses like the second group and did sexual harassment to all waitresses.” (IDI, two years experience in the cafeteria).
“Chewing gum, accepting dinner, and other invitations by the customer indicates desire.” (FGD, four years experience in a restaurant).
“The signs of the willingness of the waitresses, such as, willing to gratuitous, unnecessary laughing, feeling the customers back or face, and nicking is also the driving factors.” (IDI, two years experience in a restaurant).
Organisation-related factors
“Some of the [hospitality organisations] need to make the waitresses a sexual object. They dress them in short /miniskirts/ that exposed their body. The uniform is attractive, which can display their collection for attracting customers sexually.” (IDI, four years experience in a cafeteria).
“Practically, we women are victims. Whereas customers are considered as kings and always right. I faced such a problem while I complain of sexual harassment to my manager.” (FGD, five years experience in a cafeteria).
“The monthly salary for women working in hospitality workplaces is not enough. They cannot afford a dorm, food … , and it has a Burdon on them. To overcome this time, women will negotiate with the perpetrators to get money in exchange for sexual favours.” (KII (cashier), 1-year experience in a restaurant).
“So far, I did not know organisations working to address such problems and have a formal complaints procedure. There are no special rules and regulation for privileged waitresses safety of sexual harassment in their working place.” (FGD, five years experience in a restaurant).
“Managers/supervisors/owners tried to use their power to harass sexually. If we are not volunteers, they will fire us from the job. If we are volunteers, they will promote to head waiter from an ordinary waitress in exchange for sexual favours.” (FGD, four years experience in a cafeteria).
Society, peer, and policy-related risk factors
“For those who need to complain, the statutory institutions want witnesses, and it is unlikely to get any solution for acts such as touching, winking, and fondling. Those who see this act are unwilling to witness it due to the fear of not being fired. Even with the presence of a witness, we are not ready to file a complaint. It is due to the long process of the complaint. Mostly, we thought that the legal process takes time and money. The legal bodies act if they see someone is hitting us. I do not think that there is a legal issue with sexual harassment. I think the legal process is not giving solutions.” (IDI, 1-year experience in a cafeteria).
“If someone raped me, I would do nothing. Sometimes, agents/brokers, either the perpetrators or the dealers of the activities. So, it is so difficult to solve the issue with the legal ground. Most of the perpetrators can be able to stop the case with money. Therefore, since it is not simple to take the issue to court, I will not go to court because no one will consider the issue.” (FGD, three years experience in a restaurant).
“It is known that waitresses are targeted for sexual harassment because of our culture, physical beauty, easy-obtainability, and financial problems.” (KII, manager).
Consequences of sexual harassment
Work-related consequences:
“It depends. Some may deteriorate. However, some may take victimisation as a sprinting for future life. Some may end in … , and in coffee selling in the street. However, some change their jobs or marry a rich person and become stable in their marriage.” (IDI, 1-year experience in the cafeteria).
“Once I prefer not to suffer from frequent sexual harassment. I searched and got another waitressing job in another institution. However, it was the same. Then, I changed my job to the barber.” (IDI, one and half-year experience in a bar).
“… It can reduce the organisation’s image, dignity, and community acceptance. It also leads to the loss of productive working group women.” (IDI, 1-year experience in a cafeteria).
“The consequences are different. However, some may take the victimisation as a sprinting for their future life and maybe promoted to a better job position, get better work recommendations in exchange for sexual favours, marry a rich person, and have a stable life.” (IDI, four years experience in a cafeteria).
Health-related consequences
“…. I considered myself a person who has no value, lost my confidence, thought about suicide, and felt sick of the frequent acts. I hate my work myself and felt that working in hospitality workplaces is a disgrace. I asked myself, how does the perpetrator sexually harass me without recognising me? Sometimes I just cried. I also thought about my boyfriend’s thoughts.” (IDI, 1-year experience in a bar).
“I realised that the waitresses lose their trust. They lose their interest in working and discuss their issues. They develop fear and lack of self-confidence, moral disengagement, psychological depression. Then, they withdraw the job, depression, lack of self-esteem, fewer clutches to work.” (KII (supervisor), two years experience).
“The perpetrators affected my life so badly. I felt guilty, shameful, depressed, and fear every human beings while I moved home with transport, and suffered a terrible dream at night.” (IDI, four years experience in a cafeteria).
“However, some change their jobs or marry a rich person and become stable in their marriage. As a consequence, they could receive a good future.” (IDI, three years experience in a restaurant).
“All these activities make me hate the job and expose me to depression, fear, and self-hate. I feel angry, disturbed, think that I am not a person like others.” (IDI, two years experience in a bar).
“… Seven individuals have captured me at a time. Nevertheless, the police saved me though they beat me. I shed blood while he kicked me with his ring worn hand. I lost my phone, necklace, and tip. I also knew a female who faces similar situations. Eight adult individuals had violated her, and she got faint while the 9th individual had started climbing her. After then, she took the illness. Presently, in that respect, is a leakage of fluid from her genital area.” (IDI, six years experience in a cafeteria).
“Since we may not receive what we wish to have, in this instance, we may practice transactional sex and other social issues. I knew one young woman who was a waitress first and then became a commercial sex worker. This involvement in commercial sex work is one problem.” (FGD, six years experience in a cafeteria).
“Sexual harassment is one of the reasons for exposure to HIV/AIDS … , and would be exposed to stigma and discrimination.” (FGD, two years experience in a restaurant).
“Mostly physical and psychological impacts such as depression, menstrual disorder, tiredness, and fear happened to me.” (IDI, two years experience in a bar).
“The anger that happened in my workplace due to the unwanted sexual acts made my display on my family and disturbed my family relationship.” (IDI, two years experience in a restaurant).
“Frequent sexual harassment leads to job-hop, unwanted pregnancy, and to encounter a different financial crisis, social stigma, HIV/AIDS, and street life.” (KII (customer), driver).