Sexual Harassment Deterrent Mechanism to Safeguard the Well-Being of Sports Practitioners

Abstract

Objective - This article attempts to discuss an on-going sexual harassment deterrent initiative in safeguarding the well-being of sports practitioners in Malaysia. Methodology/Technique – The primary data used in this article is taken from a focus group session which consisted of a total of 35 participants. The main objective of this article is to discuss the results, specifically the recommendations made by focus group participants which consisted of government officers, members of NGOs, sports experts, and sports practitioners. The focus group participants firstly pin-pointed the inadequacy of current deterrent mechanisms that have failed to protect Malaysian athletes from sexual harassment such that more often than not many cases have been unreported or have simply been dismissed altogether. Following this, suggestions and recommendations were put forward by the focus group participants to improve on the mechanisms that would ensure a safe and supportive environment for all Malaysians in sport in order to eliminate all forms of sexual harassment, abuse, and exploitation. Finding – Taking into consideration the suggestions and recommendations put forth by the focus group this paper suggests a 4Ps framework in order to eliminate all forms of sexual harassment and abuse in sport. Type of Paper: Empirical. JEL Classification: I310, Z32, Z280. Keywords: Safeguard; Well-being; Sports Practitioners; Sexual Harassment; Deterrent Mechanism Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Syahirah, S; Fathynah, S; Hamid, B.A; Ismail, H; Puteh, F. (2021). Sexual Harassment Deterrent Mechanism to Safeguard the Well-Being of Sports Practitioners, GATR Global J. Bus. Soc. Sci. Review, 9(1): 50 – 57. https://doi.org/10.35609/gjbssr.2021.9.1(6)