This study explores how anti-harassment policies can reduce inequalities and foster gender-inclusive policymaking in Kuwait, linking these measures to broader economic and social outcomes. It investigates women’s experiences of Workplace Sexual Harassment (WSH), the perceived effectiveness of existing policies, and barriers to reporting such incidents.
This research has followed a qualitative approach where semi-structured interviews conducted with a purposively selected group of female employees across various sectors. The study employs a four-construct framework to capture lived experiences, offering insights into the emotional, social, and professional impacts of WSH and related policy effectiveness.
The findings indicate that reporting mechanisms remain in their infancy, with weak implementation of existing laws. Cultural taboos, fear of retaliation, and hierarchical constraints discourage reporting. Alarmingly, many women who reported harassment lost their jobs shortly afterward.
This is a unique study that examines Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in workplaces, highlighting the need for inclusive, enforceable, and impartial anti-harassment frameworks in Kuwait. Keywords: Anti-Harassment Policies, Workplace Sexual Harassment, Gender-Based Violence, Hierarchical Constraints.
Diab-Bahman, R. and Marafie, D. (2025): Implications of Harassment Policies on Economic Development: Gender-inclusive policy recommendations from sunken voices and emotions. World Journal of Women and Sustainable Development (WJWSD), Vol. 1, No. 1, pp.43-56.
