OPINION: Sexual Being First, Woman Second, Professional, Never

By Sofia Lamdichi | October 13, 2025

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Entering a workforce where men hold the majority of positions is accompanied by persistent warnings from peers and mentors.

People tend to forget that the bystander effect and trauma responses exist within the workplace. The burden of workplace safety usually falls on women, who are expected to report and respond appropriately, regardless of how real or overwhelming their feelings may be. 

In many areas of life, we are met with the feeling of having to be on alert around men as a young woman. You are reminded that men do things like this because it makes them feel powerful. What has failed to be mentioned is that the man feels powerful because he is feeding on your power. Sexual harassment in the workplace or educational space is not always direct: it can be transmitted to you through non-verbal cues － through things that make you feel like you are held hostage in your office, a hostage situation that may or may not be noticed. 

Sexual harassment is normalized in educational and professional settings: the attitude surrounding it is that it’s bound to happen to every woman and some men. The only thing in our control is how to respond to it. The idea that there are no preventable measures is absurd. The idea that it is in some men’s nature to sexualize every single woman they come across is not acceptable. And it’s only true if they are allowed to act in such matters. 

To protect people from sexual harassment in the workplace, organizations need to end the bystander effect by training everyone to report unsettling behavior immediately. Responsibility should not fall solely on those experiencing a traumatic event. Reporting suspected harassment must be mandatory. It is critical for institutions like the University at Albany to prepare students for this reality and communicate clear expectations: all instances of sexual harassment should be reported and addressed swiftly. Only by making these actions explicit can we help create a safer future for women, where job applications are about opportunity, not fear of harassment.