Dubai
The effect of any kind of initimidation or harassment is negative, says Dr Valeria Risoli, a clinical psychologist based in Dubai. The type of aggressive behaviour may have varying effects on people, including anxiety and stress.
She told Gulf News: “Any unwanted and annoying action towards another person is considered harassment and it limits the freedom of that individual. If it is just annoying to be harassed... it is painful and psychologically damaging to be sexually harassed by men on the street. On a long term these episodes can cause anxiety and stress and lead the person to avoid activities or places where these incidents of harassment occurred.”
Younger people are more sensitive “to what happens around them and to the opinion of others”, stated Risoli, and if they experience street aggression, it can have a severe impact on them. “They could develop severe depression,” she said.
Teenage years seem to be the most common for people to face sexual harassment, in Risoli’s opinion. Some people might think that receiving a compliment from a stranger on the street is flattering, but it is important for parents to make their children understand that “unwanted words or gestures are aggressive behaviours and they should never feel obligated to be kind to the harasser”.
They need to have a conversation about these events and the possibility of experiencing it. Teens should learn to ignore such people and even reach out for help if necessary. If they are prepared, it reduces the psychological impact.
“Insecure people that the victims of harassment might feel ashamed and considered as an object by others. This can affect their self esteem in the long term,” Risoli said.
So why do people initimidate others when their actions are having such a negative impact?
Risoli said it can happen because people are ignorant of the effects of their actions or insensitive towards others. She referred to such people as “aggressive and non-empathetic” for thinking that their actions are funny.
She said: “Some might think it is acceptable to send kisses from a car or to shout sexual compliments about your body, but a harasser is causing pain, annoyance and stress to another individual and there is nothing funny about that.”
It could also be a reflection of their own insecurity. Either way, Risoli labelled it a form of violence that no one deserves to be a victim of.
