Be aware of tricks used by sexual harassers

Sexual harassers always have ways of manipulating potential victims. Both women and men have equal opportunities to become victims of sexual harassment. However, women are the most targets of sexual harassment than men. Therefore, it is important for women to know what tricks are usually used by sexual harassers.

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment is unwanted and unwanted sexual behavior or attention that will irritate the victim. This usually includes coercion to perform sexual activities, forcibly showing the perpetrator's genitals to the victim, to words or behaviors that have sexual connotations.

If allowed, sexual harassment can lead to more serious things, namely sexual violence such as rape.

The tricks a sexual harasser uses to manipulate the victim

1. Trapping the victim

The first thing that sexual criminals will do is find a quiet place so that they and the victim can be alone to facilitate their actions. This is where the perpetrator will usually intimidate and corner the victim. This can be done by inviting him to a quiet place, deliberately holding a meeting in a hotel room, or simply stopping by the house of a potential victim on the pretext that something is left or wants to be discussed.

In essence, this aims to make the victim alone. The next attack is to start approaching the victim by holding his body part. It could also be that the perpetrator blocks the victim's path and uses his body to corner the victim further.

Be careful if someone leads you in the above conditions. Try to decline the invitation, especially if the person you don't know. Make sure you are in a crowded situation so that the offender does not have the opportunity to launch certain attacks on you that may lead to sexual harassment.

2. Convince the victim that his actions are reasonable

The most common manipulation strategy used by perpetrators of sexual harassment is to convince the victim that the things she did, for example touching the breast or other parts of the victim's body were normal. For example, by saying, "Everywhere dating, yes, like this!" or, “How, are you fighting? Everyone I work with is used to doing this with me."

This will encourage the victim to find it difficult to refuse, thinking that maybe this is normal. In fact, the victim has been consumed by the manipulation of the perpetrator.

Keep in mind that your body is completely yours. No one has the right to touch your body without your permission.

3. Make the victim feel guilty

Sexual abusers usually enjoy making their victims feel guilty. For example, the perpetrator and the victim come home late at night together. This could be used by the perpetrator who took the victim home as a reward and instead accused the victim of taking the initiative to ask to be taken home. In fact, under no circumstances can sexual harassment be justified and the only culprit is the perpetrator, not the victim.

In addition, sexual harassers are also happy to make their victims feel that they owe them a favor. For example, because he is his mentor or the person who gave him a job. That way, the opportunity to comply with the request of the perpetrator is greater.

4. Rejecting "no" answers

Perpetrators usually have the persistence to persuade the victim to do what he wants in a subtle and polite manner. Even though it has been rejected many times, usually the perpetrator will keep trying to get it. Perpetrators will not give up quickly because of a few rejections, because the perpetrators' dictionary does not contain the word “no”. They will continue to look for ways to get the victim to agree and agree to his request even if they are forced to.

If you are in this position, seek help immediately and report the perpetrator's actions to the appropriate authorities. Whether it's HRD managers, school principals, police, and others.

5. Hidden threats or temptations

Perpetrators can use threats to persuade potential victims. For example, threatening to destroy the victim's career or reputation if she refuses to do so. It could also be the other way around, the perpetrator uses temptation to get the woman, for example promising a promotion or a high exam score.

6. Ask the victim to do the trivial thing first

One of the classic ways to manipulate a sexual harassment victim is to ask her to do seemingly trivial things first. For example, the perpetrator asks the victim to massage his shoulder. If the victim is willing, after a while the perpetrator will ask the victim to massage other parts of his body, such as in the genital area.

The victim has already agreed to the perpetrator's initial request, it will be difficult for him to refuse further requests firmly.

It is important to remember that a sexual harasser can do anything to achieve his goals. So, actually there are hundreds of other tricks that actors can do to launch the action. Therefore, whenever you feel uncomfortable or insecure, get out of the situation immediately and seek help.