Impact of Sexual Harassment on Women’s Health and Constitutional Remedies in India: A Sociological Study

Abstract

Women and women-related issues are major subject matters to study in India in order to explore solutions and discover answers for their problems. Sexual harassment is one of the major problems among them and creates a deep impact on women’s health. It is also a psychological and physical shock for women, while violating fundamental constitutional guarantees under the Indian law system. Equal employment opportunities are seriously impaired when women employees undergo specific gender vio-lence, such as sexual harassment in the workplace. This type of harassment creates hostile work condi-tions for women in which the victim cannot feel safe and secure. The survey conducted by Amy Black-stone, who is a sociologist at the University of Maine, reveals that 70% of women and 45% of men em-ployees experienced sexual harassment problems in their workplace. 
In the Indian context, sexual harassment is unwelcome. According to the Constitution of India, sexual harassment infringes the fundamental right of a woman to gender equality under Article 14. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution gives the fundamental right to life and living with dignity to all its citizens. Alt-hough it is observed that there is no specific law framed to tackle sexual harassment at the workplace in India, persons who suffer from sexual harassment not only hold strained relationships in the workplace but are also at risk for numerous health problems such as depression, sleep problems, blood pressure, suicide, etc.