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Edu4Sure Admin
- October 27, 2022
For decades, workplace harassment has been viewed through a singular lens, one that largely focuses on protecting women from misconduct, discrimination, and exploitation. Male Harassment has almost no place. Silence has a gender too – and it often sounds like a man’s voice, unheard.
The PoSH Act, a milestone in ensuring women’s safety at work, has rightfully created a legal framework to address inappropriate behaviour and hold organisations accountable.
But as we progress toward equality, an uncomfortable truth demands attention: harassment treats all genders equally.
Yet, we seldom speak of the men who experience it.
It is not because such cases are as frequent or systemic as those involving women; they aren’t. But because when they do occur, they’re met with silence, disbelief, or ridicule. And that silence, born of patriarchy itself, has become one of the quietest yet most painful prisons men live in.
The Unseen Burden: When Patriarchy Silences Men
Patriarchy has long been misunderstood as a structure that only disadvantages women. The truth is more nuanced. Patriarchy doesn’t only restrict women, it also conditions men to suppress emotion, vulnerability, and pain.
From a young age, boys are taught to appear strong, unshaken, and always in control. They’re told to “man up,” “don’t cry,” and “handle it.” These seemingly harmless expressions shape an internal narrative, one that later prevents men from acknowledging or expressing distress.
When harassment happens, whether it’s an inappropriate remark, an unsolicited comment, or an unwanted gesture, a man’s first instinct is rarely to seek help. Instead, he rationalizes it, questions himself, or wonders whether it even “counts” as harassment because he was never told it could.
It’s a painful irony: patriarchy teaches men to protect others, but never how to defend themselves.
The Culture of Ridicule: When Pain Becomes a Joke
If a woman reports being harassed, society responds with concern and empathy, as it should. If a man reports it, society often responds with laughter.
That is the cruel irony many male victims endure. Their experiences are turned into jokes, their discomfort dismissed, and their boundaries mocked.
Imagine a man confiding in his friends that a colleague behaved inappropriately toward him. Instead of support, he’s likely to hear:
“Bro, you’re lucky.”
“Why are you complaining?”
“Take it as a compliment.”
This reaction doesn’t stem from malice but from social conditioning. Society has normalized the idea that any attention directed at men is flattering, even when it’s unwanted or invasive. Men are rarely seen as possible victims, only as potential initiators.
As a result, many don’t even realize that what happened to them was harassment. It’s dismissed as “harmless fun,” “flirting,” or something to brag about.
But here’s the truth: when consent or comfort is missing, it’s harassment, regardless of who the target is.
The Gap in Awareness: What Boys Are Never Taught
There’s a stark difference in how children are taught about personal boundaries.
Girls are educated early about appropriate and inappropriate behaviour. They are encouraged to speak up when something feels wrong.
Boys, however, are rarely given the same clarity. They are often told not to misbehave, but not that they too can be wronged.
This difference in awareness has long-term consequences. Many men grow up without the tools to recognize when someone crosses their boundaries. They misread discomfort as confusion or fail to recognize coercion altogether.
When a woman experiences harassment, she knows it violates her comfort, because society told her so.
When a man experiences harassment, he often doubts it, because society told him it couldn’t happen.
And that lack of awareness allows countless men to suffer silently, sometimes without even realizing they have been wronged.
The Gendered Double Standard: Pride and Shame
At the root of this misunderstanding lies a deeply ingrained double standard, the belief that acts of closeness bring pride to a man but shame to a woman.
This cultural distortion warps how we perceive boundaries. When a man is subjected to coercion or manipulation, the incident is rarely questioned. Instead, he’s applauded or teased as though it were an accomplishment.
For women, the same incident often carries judgment or social stigma. For men, it brings undeserved validation.
This mindset converts victimhood into misplaced pride. It teaches men that being desired is always an advantage, even when it causes harm or discomfort.
True strength, however, lies not in acceptance but in agency, in the ability to set and respect boundaries. Dignity, respect, and personal choice must apply equally, irrespective of gender.
The Reality of Male Harassment: Less but Real
Statistically, incidents of men being harassed are fewer than those involving women, but “fewer” does not mean “nonexistent.”
Men can experience harassment from women, from other men, or from individuals in positions of power. Yet, most male victims remain silent. Not because the law forbids them to speak, but because society often refuses to listen.
Workplace systems are still evolving in this regard. Male complaints are often dismissed, doubted, or trivialized. This lack of institutional recognition discourages men from reporting, reinforcing a vicious cycle: silence breeds disbelief, and disbelief reinforces silence.
Until that cycle breaks, equality remains incomplete, because empathy cannot be selective.
The Psychological Impact: When Strength Turns into Isolation
Emotional distress does not discriminate by gender. Men, too, experience anxiety, guilt, and shame. They may internalize pain, question self-worth, and struggle with identity after facing misconduct.
But because men are taught to equate vulnerability with weakness, they rarely seek help. Instead, pain becomes solitude. Trauma turns inward.
What manifests on the surface is not sorrow but detachment, irritability, or anger, emotional outcomes society misreads as indifference.
We cannot expect men to heal if we continue ridiculing their pain. Compassion must replace mockery if healing is to begin.
Rethinking Equality: Beyond Protection, Toward Understanding
The pursuit of equality should not revolve around comparing statistics but around creating fairness and empathy for all.
Women continue to face higher rates of workplace harassment, and that must remain a serious social and legal priority. Yet, equality also means recognizing that harm knows no gender.
Men who experience harassment deserve the same recognition, dignity, and justice. Hence, we should focus on awareness against male harassment.
Organizations must implement training and awareness programs that not only educate men about their responsibilities but also inform them of their rights.
Policies must evolve from protection to inclusion, ensuring that every employee, regardless of gender, feels safe and heard.
Why Men Don’t Speak Up
- Fear of ridicule: They fear being mocked or disbelieved.
- Doubt of legitimacy: Many are unsure if what they faced “qualifies” as harassment.
- Lack of procedural clarity: Legal mechanisms like PoSH focus mainly on female protection, leaving men uncertain of redressal routes.
- Cultural stigma: Society still views refusal or discomfort from men as weakness rather than a boundary.
Until these social and institutional barriers are addressed, silence will remain the default language of male pain.
Moving Forward Against Male Harassment: Building a Culture of True Respect
If harassment truly treats all genders equally, then our approach must reflect that equality.
Organizations must create safe, neutral spaces for every employee to report misconduct without fear or bias.
Schools and workplaces must normalize conversations about mutual respect, boundaries, and empathy.
And most importantly, boys must be taught (From the school/ college itself) that consent is not only something they must respect, but it’s something they are entitled to expect. Because respect has no gender. Consent has no gender. Harassment has no gender.
Equality isn’t about minimizing one group’s pain; it’s about acknowledging everyone’s. True equality begins when every story, regardless of gender, finds the courage to be told.
FAQ: Male Harassment at Workplace
Q1: How can organizations ensure men feel safe to report harassment without stigma?
A1: Companies can promote a culture of equality and awareness, emphasising that harassment affects all genders. Anonymous reporting channels, visible leadership support, and clear anti-retaliation policies help men feel safe to speak up.
Q2: Are there legal gaps in PoSH when it comes to protecting men, and how can companies address them?
A2: Yes, PoSH is primarily written to protect women. Organizations can create gender-neutral policies that complement PoSH, ensuring men also have a clear process to report harassment and receive justice.
Q3: How can harassment impact men’s career progression if it goes unreported?
A3: Unaddressed harassment can lead to stress, reduced productivity, or forced resignation. Men may avoid taking on high-visibility roles to escape unwanted attention, which can stall career growth. Proper policies and support systems help prevent this.
Q4: How can training help employees recognize that harassment treats all genders equally?
A4: Training can create awareness that harassment isn’t gender-specific. Scenario-based sessions, role-plays, and discussions on unconscious biases can equip both men and women to recognize, report, and prevent harassment effectively.
Q5: What steps can bystanders take if they witness harassment against a male colleague?
A5: Bystanders should support the victim, document the incident, and report it to the IC or HR. Encouraging open communication and standing against inappropriate behaviour reinforces the principle that harassment treats all genders equally.
Q6: Can you suggest a workplace policy on PoSH?
A6: Yes, you can refer to this PoSH policy by the government. However, to stay updated and get answers to specific questions, you can ask an expert. Edu4Sure also conducts PoSH training for various companies/ individuals/ colleges.
Final Thoughts about Male Harassment Issues
The dialogue on harassment has evolved, but it remains incomplete. We’ve built frameworks that safeguard women, and rightly so, but we’ve yet to build systems that acknowledge men’s silent suffering.
Patriarchy, the same structure that endangered women’s safety, also taught men to conceal pain. It created a world where women were told to be cautious, and men were told to be invincible.
But invincibility is a myth, and vulnerability is human.
If we truly seek a world of equality, we must learn to listen to every voice, even the quietest ones. Harassment does not identify gender before it harms, and empathy should not identify gender before it heals.
Because dignity, safety, and respect aren’t privileges granted to one gender. They are, and must always remain, universal human rights.
Do you want training on PoSH for you or your employees? Connect with us at partner@edu4sure.com or call us at +91-9555115533.
