Understanding sexual harassment in workplace: A need for different approach for collection of data and analysis

While the constitution of India aims to create an equitable and equal environment for those who were denied their rightful place in the previous government and social structure, this includes protection of women from harassment in various spheres. In the unorganized sector where women are more vulnerable, there is the need to take a different approach rather than a traditional questionnaire approach or the so called survey approach. The vulnerability of the women is very high because they are in severe financial difficulties, needing work for survival and it is so intense that fighting for one’s right for dignity, has least importance. The study shows a different approach to collect and analyze the data. The approach was to give emphasis to create trustworthiness and commitment by the researcher. It took sustained requests, going to them number of times in spite of their refusal to entertain any request, talking to women workers those having some control over others and convincing them about the confidentiality of the data. The approach emphasized personal level discussions, highlighted as inter-personal information interchange. The study analyses the behavior which indicates the presence of sexual harassment.