Paper short abstract:

This paper expresses how important language is among young women workers in factories in reporting sexual harassment. Usually before these young women report or talk about sexual harassment with other parties, they edit and rephrase words and phrases to avoid obscenity.

Paper long abstract:

This paper analyses the role of language as a major hindrance for urban young women to report on sexual harassment in the world of work. In Uganda, one in three women are victims or survivors of sexual violence, including at the workplace. Forms of sexual harassment range from verbal offenses to physical harassment and rape. Many young women lack both the knowledge and appropriate language to be in a position to voice, report and mitigate sexual harassment. This qualitative study that involved linguistic research focused on the everyday language that young women use and acquire for discussing and reporting workplace sexual harassment. Case study research focused on women working in agri-processing firms, which are considered growth industries and attract a female labour force and contribute to women's empowerment. The presentation explores the concern of communicating sexual harassment among young urban women, from slang to formal language. I will use individual cases to show how young women in Uganda lack knowledge and language of communicating sexual harassment and I will conclude by identifying pathways to solutions.