It’s strange how the places we spend most of our waking hours — offices, studios, ministries, classrooms — can hold so much silence.
Behind the polite smiles and “professional” greetings, there’s a different kind of story unfolding — one that too many women carry quietly.
I’ve seen it. I’ve heard it whispered over coffee breaks, hidden behind laughter that doesn’t quite reach the eyes. And sometimes, it’s been my own experience — that uncomfortable feeling when someone in power crosses a line and expects you to stay quiet because they sign your paycheck.
Workplace sexual abuse isn’t always loud.
Sometimes it hides behind compliments, “friendly touches,” or the promise of a promotion. Other times, it’s more direct — the boss who corners you, the colleague who won’t take no for an answer, the powerful man who believes his position permits him.
A few months ago, I spoke to a woman I’ll call Lydia. She told me about her first job out of college. She was bright, hardworking, and full of hope. Her supervisor started mentoring her — calling her “brilliant,” “promising,” and “like a daughter.” Until one day, he asked her to “show gratitude” in ways that had nothing to do with work.
When she refused, her projects were reassigned. Her name was left out of reports. Within months, she was quietly pushed out — and he still leads that department today.
Lydia told me she stopped trusting men in professional spaces. “They all want something,” she said. “If you say yes, they use you. If you say no, they destroy you.”
And sadly, she’s not alone.
Research shows that about 38% of women and 14% of men report experiencing sexual harassment or abuse at work — but those numbers barely scratch the surface. Many never report. Some are silenced by fear of losing their jobs, others by shame or disbelief.
Then there are the ones who agree to it — not because they want to, but because desperation leaves them no choice. Bills pile up, families depend on them, and suddenly, saying yes feels safer than losing everything.
Let’s call that what it is: coerced survival, not consent.
And while men experience this too — and we must acknowledge that — the reality is, women remain the bigger number in this unspoken crisis.
It’s a cycle of power, not passion. Control, not chemistry. And it thrives because silence pays the bills — not just for individuals, but for the institutions that would rather protect their image than their employees.
I think about how many women have learned to shrink themselves at work — dress down, speak less, avoid eye contact — just to feel safe. How many brilliant minds have walked away, not because they lacked talent, but because the environment suffocated their dignity?
So here’s my truth:
Work should never feel like survival.
No one should have to trade safety for opportunity.
No one should be punished for saying no.
If we want real change, it starts with creating spaces that listen, believe, and protect. With leaders who don’t just talk about equality, but practice accountability.
Because behind every corporate title, every glass office door, there’s a human being — and no paycheck, no promotion, no “favor” is worth their peace.
To every woman who’s endured the unspoken, who’s carried the shame that never belonged to her — your voice matters. You don’t have to stay quiet to keep your job, your faith, or your dignity.
Speak.
Even if your voice trembles.
Because silence may keep you employed — but truth will keep you free.
