|
Lideres Campesinas a resource for sexual abuse victims
BY
Farmworker women held a vigil Friday morning in an east
Theirs was one of several events in central and
About 10 women gathered in an
"It's going to teach them how to be open and not stay quiet," Ana Maria
Torres, a former farmworker, said in Spanish, "so that when something
like this happens, they know who to talk to."
"We want people to learn about it and how bad it is," Rosa Guijosa said
in Spanish. "It's a big deal."
The heavy clothing — bandanas and multiple sweatshirts — worn by many
women in the fields of Monterey County is intended to protect them from
harassment as well as from sunlight and pesticides, a Lideres Campesinas
spokeswoman said.
"[F]armworker women dress this way to protect themselves from sexual
harassment, from their supervisors, bosses or coworkers," said Ramona
Felix, state coordinator for the organization's Sexual Harassment and
Assault program, in a statement.
The
Friday's event was organized by Paula Placencia, assistant coordinator
for Lideres Campesinas in
Lideres Campesinas typically offers women referrals to the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission and California Rural Legal Assistance.
Besides sexual harassment, the organization also deals with such issues
as pesticide exposure and pay disputes.
Wendy Fink-Weber, spokeswoman for Western Growers Association, said the
industry takes the issue of harassment very seriously.
"Assembly Bill 1825 mandates sexual harassment training for managers
every two years," Fink-Weber said. "Western Growers offers that. We go
to members' companies and do the training. We do it in Spanish, too."
|