Nathaniel Stewart-This young patron enjoys the music at a recent Passa Passa, held on Spanish Town Road.

Sadeke Brooks, STAR Writer

Being sexually harassed is not something that a female wants when she attends a party but it is something that is almost always guaranteed.

Sexual harassment is unwelcome attention of a sexual nature. It may include a range of behaviour from mild transgressions and annoyances to serious abuses, which can lead to rape.

At parties, more so dancehall and carnival events, females are often solicited sexually, touched and groped. Many women, including regular party patron Shawna, have been a victim of this.

"Yuh a walk pass dem an' dem ha hold on pon yuh or dem a pull yuh clothes when yuh ah pass dem. Sometime yuh jus' deh by yuh self an' dem come wine up pon yuh," says Shawna.

She added, "When yuh look good an' go out, man a go waan touch, dance or start a conversation wid yuh. It's kinda unavoidable."

She says this is unfortunate, but is not bothered by it as other persons have had worse experiences. "Mi rememba when mi ah watch a video fi a party a Montego Bay, an' di man grab di girl an' start ram har inna di wall even though she neva waan dance wid him. She haffi fight him off," she said.

Jennifer Williams, who is the acting director of policy and research in the Bureau of Women's Affairs, says women are generally harassed. This harassment, she says, is unwanted sexual advancement and can occur in various settings, like workplaces, between landlord and tenant and even educational institutions. She added that a party setting would be no exception. She says sexual harassment usually occurs where women are exposed to other persons.

"Women are being harassed on a regular basis and it should not be encouraged or tolerated," said Williams.

there for the taking

She continued, "It is taken by some people that they (women) are there for the taking. That is sexual harassment and that is wrong. It is wrong to violate a person's rights."

Kay, a university student, says she has been a victim of these annoyances but does not believe it should be categorised as full-fledged sexual harassment.

"You have some guys weh yuh tell seh yuh nuh want fi dance wid dem and dem jus' hitch up behind yuh fi di whole night. Dem try touch. This happen everywhere. Mi nuh think yuh can prevent it."

She added that it is something she is not pleased with as it makes her uncomfortable and unable to fully enjoy herself when she goes out.

Dr Donna Hope, lecturer in the Reggae Studies Unit at the University of the West Indies, says this type of harrasment is accepted as 'normal' by some women. She says she has not seen women become upset about certain types of harrasment in recent times. She told The Star that there seems to be some consensus that 'touching' is accepted.

"It seems as if it is almost accepted that men should touch, especially where people are in close contact with women. But that might be reduced when women go in groups or with their partners," she said.

Names changed on request.