Abstract
Home care professionals, operating within the Service of Help to Dependent People –a public programme– provide daily support to dependent individuals in their homes. This proximity facilitates direct engagement with these individuals and their families, particularly when cohabiting or during visits. However, working alone in private domestic settings can pose risks to home care professionals. This concern is particularly salient given that most of these professionals are women, who may be vulnerable to sexual harassment. The main purpose of this study is exploring the risk of sexual harassment and response protocols for female home care workers. The study adopted a qualitative approach from a gender perspective. The primary research technique employed was a focus group, comprising nine home care workers from the Jerez home care service. Additionally, interviews were conducted with professionals from prevention and gender-based violence services within the local council. It’s evident that home care professionals have encountered sexual harassment from both the dependent individuals they care for and their male relatives, whether cohabiting or visiting. All documented instances of harassment were perpetrated by men of varying ages. The nature of these acts ranged from physical contact (e.g., unsolicited touching) to psychological harassment (e.g., suggestive comments, unwanted sexual propositions), leading to adverse physical and emotional impacts on the victims. Although the service provider has implemented a sexual harassment protocol and offers support programmes, workers report significant apprehension and fear of recurrence, primarily due to the inherent inability to cease providing care to the dependent individuals.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
HOME CARE, DEPENDENCY, GENDER, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE
