The problem of domestic violence and workplace abuse in Malaysia has escalated, exacerbating the anguish of victims, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
This was expressed by International College of Clinical Hypnosis Practitioners (ICCHP) Asia Regional Director Synthia Surin at the webinar on “Psychological First Aid for Victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse”. About 50 people attended the event organised by WOU’s Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS), ICCHP Asia and the Penang Women’s Development Corporation on 5 December 2021.
She said domestic violence is “often overlooked, excused or denied” and that it “needs a social and political response”. She added, “The abuser uses fear, guilt, shame and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under their thumb. They may take away your mobile phone and control your movements.”
She stressed that abusive behaviour by any person, even a teenager or an older adult, is never acceptable. She said to know if you are a victim of domestic abuse, the signs are physical violence, control or gaslighting, where the abuser manipulates you emotionally that you begin to accept whatever untruth he says about you.
Surin remarked that abuse not only happens in the home but in multinational companies, small offices, colleges, hospitals, universities, old folk homes, and other organisations. She spoke on three forms of abuse – emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
She gave a few examples of emotional abuse at the workplace. “The head of department belittles you or puts you down although you have done all your work. They blame you or isolate you, no longer including you in future projects, make unreasonable work demands, give you no time off for personal demands, and constantly accuse you when anything goes wrong.”
Surin remarked that abuse not only happens in the home but in multinational companies, small offices, colleges, hospitals, universities, old folk homes, and other organisations. She spoke on three forms of abuse – emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
She gave a few examples of emotional abuse at the workplace. “The head of department belittles you or puts you down although you have done all your work. They blame you or isolate you, no longer including you in future projects, make unreasonable work demands, give you no time off for personal demands, and constantly accuse you when anything goes wrong.”
Surin said sexual abuse encompasses unwanted sexual demands, even between spouses, and unwanted touching or advances by colleagues or the boss. “Support a friend if they are being abused, especially at work. If you notice a change in behaviour, offer them assistance and if you don’t know how, put them in contact with someone who can help,” she urged.
During the question-and-answer session, she said that office bullying is a form of emotional abuse and is happening in many organisations. “It could be emails sent around saying that the person’s performance is not acceptable, and it is not only sent to one person, but to people that don’t need to be informed of this.”
She called on victims to raise the issue with their human resource department, and if this not feasible, to seek outside help or lodge a police report. She said many employees fear losing their job and so may become subjected to intimidation by people who take advantage of the current economic situation.