Web. Women’ Web is an organisation initiated by representatives of universities. All universities are represented except Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. 
Silent no more
Women’s Web provides forum for sexual harassment issues
By Wylie Yeo
A
female student saw a Peeping Tom when she was taking a shower in a hostel at Hong Kong University.A lecturer at The Chinese University of Hong Kong forcibly kissed a female student.
Nine students at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University complained that their lecturers had sexually harassed them.
These cases are from Women Voice, a tabloid published by Women’s
Web. Women’ Web is an organisation initiated by representatives of universities. All universities are represented except Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
In July 1995, a joint school student campaign against the unfair portrayals of women in beer advertisements was organized by some university students. This event arose from the concerns about the inequalities women faced. They chose sexual harassment as their focus because it was a symbol of gender inequality in tertiary institutions.
The philosophy of Women’s Web is that sexual harassment is the indispensable outcome of the imbalance of power between the two sexes in a patriarchal society.
Said Miss Miranda Yip, coordinator of Women’s Web at Hong Kong University: “A woman is considered to be sexually harassed when she is made anxious by an act or even a word related to sex.
“However, victims of sexual harassment tend to deny their feelings. They may also be condemned as being too sensitive or conservative. Some victims even blame themselves for sexy clothes that may have triggered sexual interest in someone else.”
Women’s Web believes that victims should speak up and share their unhappy experiences with others. It publishes tabloids and organizes exhibitions, film shows and forums. Official representatives of universities and spokespersons of homosexual organisations are invited as guest speakers to discuss topics concerning sexual harassment.
These programmes aim at arousing concerns of universities regarding sexual harassment. They started their activities in universities because they thought the campus was a good place to start a social movement and to bring their messages to the public.
Some of their members’ pager numbers are used as hotlines. All complaints are kept secret. Women’s Web tries to bring the complaints to universities. It will urge the universities to report to the police if necessary.
Only The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University have policies concerning sexual harassment. However, some students think these policies do not function well.
Said Miss Ronda Chan, a representative of Hong Kong Poly: “In my school, it is said that students can complain to the student affairs office about sexual harassment. But actually no concrete official policy has been formulated to help the victims.
“If victims cannot tolerate the harassment, they can only express their grievances by writing on the students’ notice boards or reporting to the police.”
According to Miss Chan, reporting to the police is not a good way. She said victims suffer more when they stand up in court and face the media.
Said Miss Chan: “Universities should also organize courses to educate students. This helps them to face gender inequalities in a positive way.”
Women’s Web is now facing a problem of continuity. Most of its active members are final year students. If no new members join the web next year, the organization may fold.
