{"id":2139635,"date":"2025-06-18T20:57:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T18:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/talenti.pl\/?post_type=materialy&p=2139635"},"modified":"2025-09-16T14:18:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T12:18:58","slug":"how-does-harassment-in-public-spaces-affect-womens-careers-and-professional-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"materialy","link":"https:\/\/talenti.pl\/en\/materials\/how-does-harassment-in-public-spaces-affect-womens-careers-and-professional-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"How does harassment in public spaces affect women’s careers and professional opportunities?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Imagine that your daily commute to work is a minefield. That getting around town, travelling on public transport, eating lunch on a bench \u2013 these are all situations that carry the potential risk of hearing inappropriate comments, being accosted or touched without consent. For most women, these are not isolated stories or exercises in imagination \u2013 they are reality. And although harassment in public spaces is often trivialised as \u2018innocent banter\u2019, its impact on professional development, self-confidence and career paths can be profound and long-lasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is harassment in public spaces \u2013 and why is it not a \u2018trifling matter\u2019?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Harassment in public spaces is any form of verbal, non-verbal or physical behaviour of a sexual nature that is unwanted and unwelcome by the recipient and takes place in an open space \u2013 on the way to work, at university, on public transport, in a shop, cinema or park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An IPSOS survey conducted for L’Or\u00e9al Paris shows that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • 77% of women in Poland have experienced harassment in public spaces,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • as many as 84% of them felt relieved when someone reacted,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • but only half of the witnesses declare that they would react to harassment in public spaces \u2013 the most common reason being that they do not know how to help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Many people believe that violence begins with actions. However, it often begins with words. Words that are meant to downplay, soften or silence. When a woman says that someone touched her without her consent on a bus, she hears: \u2018You’re exaggerating.\u2019 When she reports that someone commented on her body on the street or at work, she hears, \u2018It’s just a compliment.\u2019 And when someone dares to react, they hear, \u2018Now you can’t say anything anymore.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These are not just words. It is a language that hurts and perpetuates violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It’s not just temporary discomfort. It’s stress that builds up. And it can have real consequences for your professional life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Harassment as a barrier to career advancement \u2014 data that cannot be ignored<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Experiences of harassment can lead to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n