The head of the Bachelor's degree programme in physiotherapy, Prof. Dr Andrea Pfingsten, therefore regularly invites representatives of the Frauenennotruf Regensburg e.V. to a workshop with students in their fourth semester. On 9 May, Simone Seitz and the students will reflect on their experiences to date.
Butt pinching and lewd remarks
Sexual harassment in the workplace has many different facets: lewd remarks about appearance and figure, unwanted invitations with clear intent, bottom pinching and patting, unexpected touching of breasts, display of genitalia and so on. But even inappropriate compliments such as ‘here comes my sunshine’ can be perceived as harassment. Everyone decides for themselves where the individual boundary lies.
In the therapeutic setting - and of course not only there - those involved must clearly communicate their personal boundaries in order to differentiate themselves. For example, "I am your physiotherapist. If you don't stop telling jokes like that, I won't treat you any more."
Dealing openly with abusive behaviour in the team
As a physiotherapist, it is important to take on a professional, specialist role. This includes, for example, always addressing patients as their first name.
In general, clear rules and an open approach help to minimise the risk of abusive behaviour in the physiotherapy practice. For example, it can be helpful to discuss and reflect on situations that feel subjectively strange in the team or with superiors. Supervisors should regularly discuss boundary violations in general and sexual harassment in particular in team meetings in order to sensitise everyone involved and give them more security. Binding rules can be established together on what boundary-respecting behaviour looks like.
‘Every 11th person has experienced sexual harassment at work in the past three years,’ emphasises Simone Seitz. Employees in healthcare and social professions are particularly affected - especially by customers or patients. In the event of sexual assault, it can be helpful to contact a specialist counselling centre in your area or seek help from helplines, which can also refer you to the nearest specialist counselling centre.
