Breaking the Silence: From Fear to Freedom with POSH
"You were never meant to shrink for someone else's comfort. You were meant to rise, to speak, and to stand."
When someone enters the professional world for the first time, they often already know what workplace harassment looks like. We've seen it in news stories, movies, and series. Somewhere inside, we tell ourselves "It happens, but I can handle it. I'll manage."
But the real world is different. The corporate world is full of unknown faces. You don't know who to trust who's genuinely helping you, and who's just watching. You step in with excitement, fear, and hope, only to realize very quickly how complicated it really is.
At first, someone might appear like a mentor a guide who seems to support and protect you. But slowly, that person may begin to use their power, control things, pressurise you, and manipulate your space. It can be confusing at first because they seemed like they were helping. So how can anyone speak against them?
That's when POSH the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act becomes so important. But many women don't know enough about it. They don't know who to go to, how to speak up, or even what qualifies as harassment. That's why awareness is the first step. Knowing your rights means knowing when something crosses the line and knowing that you're not alone in facing it.
Often, when a woman raises her voice, she learns a hard truth: not everyone will support her. In many cases, the higher management protects the person in power. They don't want the company's image affected. They may ignore, downplay, or even dismiss concerns. And yes, that hurts.
In some instances, the offender is simply demoted stripped of title, but not accountability. Their behaviour goes unaddressed, and they remain in the workplace. Is that justice? Certainly not. Because a person's behaviour doesn't change with their job title. And those who harass will continue unless real action is taken.
What's worse is the blame. Society often blames the woman. "She must've done it for a promotion." "She was trying to get attention." It's always about what the woman did wrong. We've been talking about women empowerment for decades, yet even today, women are seen as the problem when they try to speak the truth.
This happens across all backgrounds especially women who come from traditional families where generations believed women should stay home. Even if parents are supportive, the fear remains. "What if something happens to our daughter?" And when something does happen, support turns into restriction. "Don't go out." "No need to work." The woman ends up losing her freedom while the real issue is left untouched.
Many women don't speak up because they don't know who to talk to. They don't know about POSH or the steps they can take. And in a country like ours, where the female population is large but many still lack access to proper education and awareness, this silence becomes dangerous.
So, to every woman reading this here's the message: Your voice matters. No matter where you come from or what people say, you have the right to feel safe, to work freely, and to speak up when something is wrong. Don't stay quiet because of fear or guilt. Don't worry about what society or even your family might say. Stand for yourself.
If something feels wrong, talk to someone you trust. Raise your voice. Don't keep the pain inside because silence can hurt more than the situation itself. Speak before it's too late. Every woman deserves to be safe, respected, and heard.