Working with Sharks: Countering Sexual Harassment in Our Lives

by Fouzia Saeed

WORKING WITH SHARKS is a riveting account of sexual harassment in the United Nations. The story introduces the author’s personal life and her struggle to deal with some male co-workers who had little professional regard for women. Finally, realizing that she was not alone, she decided to confront the problem together with others facing the same dilemma. The last half of the book describes what happened when eleven women filed a joint complaint according to the rules of their organization and, to their surprise and disgust, found themselves under attack by their managers who colluded with the perpetrator to crush their case…and their spirit. This case sparked a national movement in 2001 that culminated in the passage of legislation by the Pakistani Parliament in 2010 making sexual harassment a crime. It also triggered many changes in the UN system itself.

This book is more than the story of its characters. It is also the story of the many women in many organizations around the world who have not yet spoken out. In solidarity with that cause, the Prime Minister of Pakistan declared the 22nd of December, the date of the original complaint, as a National Day for Working Women.

Genres: Pakistan

438 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Saadia B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sexual harassment is for real, even at workplace.

The author did a great favour to women in Pakistan by fighting against the harassers in her organisation and with the help of Parliament passed the Sexual Harassment Bill.

Don’t hush and shush it, because you were lucky enough not to face it yourself. Take a stand and fight for it because nothing is more important than your self-respect and dignity.

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[Anne Speckhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fouzia Saeed is a great woman--she had the courage to stand up to the bureaucracy and address sexual harassment of herself and ten others at the UN in Pakistan after which she went on to change the law in her country--no easy task. Stay tuned to see what she does next....

[Mariam Haroon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every Pakistani men and women must read it once, especially when they grapple with gender-based politics in offices. It is the best auto-biographical explanation of what is happening in cooperate sectors and how people are being ridiculed for just being different from others, be it a man or woman.
Men need to read it to understand how their natural; or societal-made attitudes disturb the work power of the opposite gender. Even the slightest gestures can be irritating and heartbreaking.

[Nimra Pervez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a pakistani working woman this book is such an inspiration

[Anal Riaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read book for professionals.

[Yas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Fouzia Saeed did a great job telling her story. Her story was so interesting that I didn't want to put the book down and finished reading in a couple of days.