Is this sexual harrassment?

[ML]

Received a message from a female friend (not  a romantic friend) of mine who is University Professor.

Does the machine translation correctly portray her words?  And is this common?

На работе все осталось на своих местах. начальник стал доктором наук и очень этим
гордится. Много девушек страдают от его излишнего навязчивого внимания, а он придирается к тем, кто не отвечает на его ухаживания. но такие ситуации не редкость, наверное, и в вашей стране.

On work all remains on the places. The chief became the doctor of sciences and very much to this is proud. Many girls suffer from his excessive persuasive attention, and he carps to those who does not answer his courtings. But such situations not a rarity, probably, and in to your country.

- - - - -

Also is the machine translation correct in this next passage.  The machine uses the word "let's" as if she were inviting me.  I don't think that is correct as she is married.

Полным ходом идет подготовка к Новому году. если все пройдет удачно, Новый год мы встретим в Арабских Эмиратах.

At full speed there is a preparation for New year. If all passes successfully, New year we let's meet in Arab Emirates.

[mies]

The woman describes her boss harassing female employees. This woman is not trying to harass you. (it's a little unclear what kind of harassment you were asking about).
She says that at New Year's Eve they (probably with her husband) will most likely be in Arab Emirates.

She didn't write "let's" - wrong translation by google.

[vwrw]

На работе все осталось на своих местах. начальник стал доктором наук и очень этим
гордится. Много девушек страдают от его излишнего навязчивого внимания, а он придирается к тем, кто не отвечает на его ухаживания. но такие ситуации не редкость, наверное, и в вашей стране.




At work all remains the same. The boss has become the doctor of sciences and he is very proud of it. Many girls are suffering from his excessive persuasive attention, and he nags those who do not answer his courtings favorably. Probably such situations are not a rarity in your country too.

- - - - -


Полным ходом идет подготовка к Новому году. если все пройдет удачно, Новый год мы встретим в Арабских Эмиратах.

 the New Year preparation proceeds at full speed . If everything goes smoothly, we will celebrate New Year in Arab Emirates.

[Vinnvinny]

ManLooking: You might want to download the application as it seems to translate slightly better.

http://translateclient.com/download.php

[Lily]

ManLooking,

Sorry, but your question probably needs clarification. In the machine translation part, I don't see the 'let's'.
Also, as mies asked already, what particular harassment do you mean?

[ML]

Thanks to all who responded.

I thought it was very clear (but apparently not) that I was asking if her boss's actions toward her and other girls constituted sexual harrassment (as defined in the west); and if this was common in FSU.

[Vinnvinny]

I thought it was very clear (but apparently not) that I was asking if her boss's actions toward her and other girls constituted sexual harrassment (as defined in the west); and if this was common in FSU.

My understanding is that the casting couch is alive and well in the FSU workplace and that sexual harassment laws aren't as we know them in the west. The situation you describe is not un-typical.

Hope that helps.

[GQBlues]

Thanks to all who responded.

I thought it was very clear (but apparently not) that I was asking if her boss's actions toward her and other girls constituted sexual harrassment (as defined in the west); and if this was common in FSU.

There's no such thing as sexual harassment in the FSU. It doesn't exist.

[Boethius]

There are laws enacted in Ukraine against sexual harassment.  However, the civil process for enforcing those laws, are not in place.

[wicheese]

There are laws enacted in Ukraine against sexual harassment.  However, the civil process for enforcing those laws, are not in place.

Same could be said for Russia as there has only been a handful of cases ever prosecuted.

[GQBlues]

Same could be said for Russia as there has only been a handful of cases ever prosecuted.

2 IIRC, and apparently regretfully so, as the 3rd attempted case heard was adamantly thrown out of court by the presiding judge citing such actions (sexual harassment) do in fact "help in the preservation and promotion of the human race" and in strict consideration of the population decline conditions in the FSU.

LOL. Go figure...so to answer ML's query if sexual harassment exist in the FSU 'as defined' in the west, the correct answer is 'no'.

[Boethius]

I'd disagree, GQ.  It exists.  Women don't like it.  They just don't have the options available to them that women in the West have, including the rule of law.

[GQBlues]

Once again, from the article...

http://rt.com/news/sexual-harassment-women-russia/

"The term “sexual harassment” does not exist legally in Russia and so the law cannot technically prohibit its practice. In fact, since 1993, only two Russian women have launched such suits and won. But since precedent plays no role in defining laws as it does in the US and in Europe, the women who won those cases are the only ones who have benefited from them."

...and coupled with the fact the 3rd, and last, court case involving allegation of 'sexual harassment' in Russia was thrown out by the presiding judge, short of *encouraging sexual predation as an act of necessity and further citing that sexual predation is in fact a great service to society at large for the preservation of the population*; I hereby submit that there is NO sexual harassment in FSU.

That's laying down down the law in more ways than one (position)!

[Boethius]

Whether it exists legally or not is distinct from whether sexual harassment exists.

In Ukraine, sexual harassment laws are on the books. 

[GQBlues]

Sexual Harassment, as defined, recognized and persecuted in the western hemisphere does not exist in the FSU.

[Boethius]

No, it exists.  However, remedies are not enforced.

[ECOCKS]

Sexual harassment by western standards is common enough in Ukraine. Certainly more so than in the US but equally certainly not every woman is abused or forced to perform. They know the term and the men are often amused by the thought that this is "illegal" in the west. Most cannot conceive that it could be successfully prosecuted and significant damages be awarded which might damage the business. Many of these involve consensual situations and women decline without usually being forced out of their jobs although it's sometimes a pre-requisite for getting the job in the first place.

As best I could tell it was easing up in the major cities but only slightly better than back in "former times" out in the provincial areas. Prosecution is basically unheard of and the unethical/pressured affairs are often merely endured until a more favorable situation offers itself. Mostly it happens with younger girls but middle-aged women are still pressed into service. There are sometimes salary differentials for the gals and more than a little office drama involved. Hearsay has it that until a few years ago there were still job ads being run which mentioned "personal services" being required although that now seems to have disappeared.

When discussing this with students, as one might predict, the males are anxious to insist that it was only natural and they love that the majority of women deal with this in the workplace in a submissive manner. They got awfully quiet when I took a poll on how many have working mothers. The girls were not as amused at the conversation and several confirmed that they still get pressured and propositioned by their supervisors and senior co-workers. As might be imagined and was alluded to upthread, there are women who view the practice as one which enables them to get what they want.

It reminded me of the US about 1900-1940 but still more common than we experienced.

[Chicagoguy]

Both my wife and a previous girlfriend quit very good jobs because of sexual pressure.

[OlgaH]

In the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation we have only an article 133...

"Article 133. Compulsion to Perform Sexual Actions

Compulsion of a person to enter into illicit relations, pederasty, lesbianism, or the commission of other sexual actions by means of blackmail, threat of destruction, damage, or taking of property, or with the advantage of material or any other dependence of the victim, shall be punishable by a fine in the amount up to 120 thousand rubles, or in the amount of the wage or salary, or any other income of the convicted person for a period of up to 1 year, or by corrective labour for a term of up to two years, or by deprivation of liberty for a term of up to one year"

To prove that she was sexually harassed or forced into illicit relations and so on by her boss or whatever at her workplace a woman has to have witnesses.

[Boethius]

Most sexual harassment in the West is not criminally illegal.  In Canada, for example, sexual harassment is only a criminal offence if stalking is involved. Men don't generally get charged criminally, or face criminal prosecution, for sexual harassment.  But their companies can face civil lawsuits.  That's why it's an issue.

Chicago, I believe that.  I remember in one of my first jobs, for a large multinational, an executive harassed several secretaries.  This was long before sexual harassment was verboten.  The last assistant he harassed was quite young, a very quiet, shy girl, and she was an absolute basket case because of him.  She was the third lawsuit brought against this particular executive, at a time when pay outs were still minimal (under $10,000).  The next secretary hired for him was a short, stout, mouthy older woman.  She was an excellent assistant, so he couldn't complain.

[GQBlues]

There has NOT been any case of sexual harassment in Russia, nor the FSU since the 3rd case that was thrown out by the Russian judge. If there has not been any conviction since then there's no case. If there's never been a case, then sexual harassment doesn't exist.

It's a simple process really.  :noidea:

[Boethius]

Just because Ukrainian politicians kill each other with impunity doesn't mean murder doesn't exist.  

Just because Central African troops rape women and girls as young as six and face no consequences, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.  

Punishment and activity are distinct.  Of course sexual harassment exists.  Just as it existed in the West in the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's.  Talk to women who worked then, and you'll find out just how common it was, even though back then, no one called it "sexual harassment", and even though perpetrators weren't punished.

[Nat]

That's really amusing to watch how American men and a Canadian woman discuss what they think is going on every day in the FSU (no offence intended guys, really!) It seems to me that you're all talking about different things. What do you consider to be "harassment"? Compliments at workplace? Excessive or annoying compliments at workplace? Hints that if a woman agrees to sexual relations she'll get something extra? Or that she'll be fired? Because really I'm sure that first 3 are widespread all over the world, and the USA isn't different (watch your movies ). Can it be called a harassment? If a person is forced to quit a job because of that - that is really a harassment. And I don't know any girl who was harassed in such a way. It doesn't mean that this thing doesn't exist in Ukraine, but it means that it's not common at all.
On the other hand I know a lot of girls who had to quit their job because of absolutely impolite and rude attitude of their employers, who considered it to be normal to shout at and insult their employees. That is quite common here.

[vwrw]

The legal definition of sexual harassment is “unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions or creates a hostile work environment.”

http://www.equalrights.org/publications/kyr/shwork.asp

[Nat]

The legal definition of sexual harassment is “unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions or creates a hostile work environment.”

http://www.equalrights.org/publications/kyr/shwork.asp

Everybody understands that this definition is so blurred, that it can just give an opportunity to anybody who has a good lawyer to sue anybody who doesn't.