Sexual Brokenness, Promotion and Society

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”- Psalms 75:6-7. The intersectionality of cultural norms and sexual behaviour is nothing new. Cultural norms are the standards that govern behaviour in a particular society. In other words, these are shared beliefs about acceptable behavior. Norms determine how people interact with each other, shaping everything from our social etiquette to our moral codes. Norms are not static but change with time, with some old ones getting abandoned and new ones emerging. Undoubtedly, there is an interconnectedness between cultural norms and the state of the society. In any discourse surrounding norms, we must acknowledge that there are those individuals who do not subscribe to cultural norms. From time immemorial sex has always been used as a form of currency or payment by both genders. Weaponized Sexuality. Over the centuries sex has been used as a weapon. Sex has been used to gain power, to hold onto power, to control or as a form of punishment or reward. Weaponized sexuality is transactional and can be dangerous. In many societies sex is afforded a platform where the highest bidder earns the prize. In many societies, girls are socialized to use their bodies to gain material possessions. Boys too are included in this practice. Yet, while this is clearly illegal, the illegality of this cultural practice has not diminished over the decades. A more sophisticated form of this cultural practice has emerged over the years. Many workplaces have become sites of sexual transactions between the employer and employee. Transactional sex is nothing new. The term refers to commodified relationships in which sexual acts are exchanged for cash, goods or benefits, often linked to survival, but also for other benefits like educational achievement or elevated social status. The Victorian era, spanning from 1837 to 1901 during Queen Victoria's reign, was a transformative period. Women in this era experienced a complex interplay of social expectations and economic realities. While the dominant ideology emphasized domesticity portraying wifehood and motherhood as ideal roles many women actively participated in the workforce as governesses, factory workers, and shopkeepers, particularly in response to economic changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. This Victorian era laid the foundation for activism concerning women’s right and feminism. As society evolves, so too have cultural norms. Fast forward to the 21st century, women are much more assertive, career minded and sexually permissive. While society is still very much judgmental concerning sexually assertive women it has become more lenient on women who are openly assertive regarding their sexuality. The abuse of power is pervasive in the workplace. Toxic Workplace. A hostile work environment can foster a culture of aggression, doubt and negativity that’s harmful to your health and success. A toxic workplace is a work environment characterized by negative behaviours like bullying, harassment, and discrimination. These factors oftentimes create a culture of fear, mistrust, and stress. This can lead to a decline in employee morale, burnout, and high turnover. Additionally, other signs of a hostile work environment include poor communication, favoritism, lack of work-life balance, and a culture that rewards harmful or unethical attitudes. In many workspaces there is a hierarchal organizational structure in place where the interplay of power relations takes place. The abuse of power can be either subtle or overt. Many employees especially females have suffered at the hands of their employers in various shades of sexual abuse. Many Human Resource Departments have also turned a blind eye regarding the abuse of employees. On the other hand, many Human Resource Departments are not aware given that the victims usually feel a sense of powerlessness. Regrettably, countless number of employees have given into the sexual overtures of their employers with the hope of being rewarded. The adage, ‘exchange is no robbery’ is very much part of the Jamaican cultural experience. This form of harassment relies on a significant power imbalance, where the harasser leverages their authority over the victim's career progression. As a result, there are some employees who will do anything including exchanging sex for a promotion? The feminists will argue that instead of saying 'Women slept their way to the top' we should say 'Men have withheld promotions until they receive sexual favours. Regardless of where your position is many women exchange sexual favours for a promotion at the workplace. Since time immemorial women have been using their feminine prowess to seduce, entice and bring attention to themselves in a sexual manner. The impact of the negative labels attached to such women has lost their significance over the years and this has served as a permit to engage in such sensual and illicit behaviours. Sexualized promotion is oftentimes difficult to prove. However, once there is a culture of transparency the secrecy of such promotions are frequently exposed. The workplace is very much a toxic environment and sexualized promotion just like any other form of unjust promotion sow seeds of discord and unproductively. Such behaviours demoralizes staff members and add to the culture of workplace toxicity. Importantly, Jamaica’s Sexual Harassment (Protection and Prevention) Act, 2021, came into effect on July 3, 2023. The Act contains provisions for dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace, schools, correctional institutions, places of safety, nursing homes, medical and psychiatric facilities, among other places. Sexual Brokenness. Sexual brokenness is a worldwide epidemic. Sexual brokenness can be defined as any sexual activity or sexual experience that does not honour God. Sexual brokenness is nothing new. The Old Testament contains examples of sexual violence, rape, adultery, and every other kind of sexual sin. Sexual brokenness also extends to human trafficking. Sexual brokenness begins to heal as respect, integrity, decency, and purity regain prominence as social norms. We should never begrudge anyone for their ranks and titles, given we do not know the path taken. We live in a world where meritocracy is on life support. In spite of what is said or done, there will always be those who sleep their way up the ranks. Such behavior speaks to a deficit in character which often cannot be repaired. Sexual brokenness is pervasive. Sexual brokenness often stems from abusive situations and the trauma associated with this. Notwithstanding, there are many who wish to remain broken given that what they believe can be obtained from this brokenness. However, for those who desire healing from sexual brokenness God is able. In the words of Garrett Kell, no matter what form your sexual brokenness takes, Jesus came to save you from it. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #sexualbrokenness