International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 5, Issue 6, June 2015 1 ISSN 2250-3153 www.ijsrp.org Dehumanization in Workplace: Counselling Approach to Gender-Based Violence OJO, Funmilayo Yemi (PhD) * , YINYINOL, W. Lasun (PhD) ** * Head, Counselling Unit, Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria ** Isabatudeen Senior Girls’ Grammar School, Ibadan, Nigeria Abstract- This paper looks at dehumanization in workplace and the implication of counselling approach to gender based violence. Dehumanizing attitudes and behaviours frequently occur in workplace, this often led to devastating psychological, health, and economic consequences on employees and the organization. One of the benefits of workplace counselling is having a professional and an impartial person who is mindful of the context in which the employees work and have a crucial understanding of the environment to which the employees will be returning. Major activities of a counsellor are listening, supporting, empathizing, exploring client potentials, and empowering client to self-help. The paper concludes that negative interaction in the workplace will negatively impact on employees’ productivity, whereas with availability of counselling services, employees’ moral and potentiality will be fully utilized which will improve the organizational performance. To enhance trust in counselling service in workplace, counsellors need to diligently observe the code of ethics. Index Terms- Dehumanization, Workplace, Counselling; Gender-Based Violence I. INTRODUCTION orkplace violence is the exercise of physical force by a person against a colleague, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker. Gender based violence, including workplace violence, is exceptionally dehumanizing, pervasive and oppressive representing a clear violation of basic human rights. Dehumanization can range from blatant and severe to subtle and relatively mild form. Such relatively mild dehumanizing behaviours can manifest themselves in the form of subtle disrespect, condescension, neglect, social ostracism and other relational slights, often evident in looks, gestures and tones of voices (Christoff, 2014) [8] . Gender based violence sadly reflects and reinforces the wider inequalities between women and men. The various manifestations of gender based violence at work, such as sexual harassment, verbal or psychological abuse, intimidation, mobbing and bullying, and domestic violence impacting on the workplace can be prevented (UN, 2014) [40] . The myth that human world is a ‘men’s world’ is founded upon the practical reality of the complete over-riding and dominant influence of the male over the female gender in all facets of public life. Modern education together with the advancement in science and technology, which processes have accelerated in tandem especially in the last century, have tremendously increased the skill acquisitions and enhanced the productive efficiencies and capabilities of women as much as men. Armed with these two, women have expanded their roles from procreation and social care giving within the family to major and significant contributions to development in all fields of human concern and endeavours. Yet in spite of their significant contributions in the modern society, women have continued to be regarded and treated as a second fiddle and unequal partners in the modern human development process. (Ochoga, 2015) [34] . It could also be argued that the very notion of people as a human resource is in itself is dehumanizing (Colling & Terry, 2010) [10] . There is a considerable irony in the fact that attempts to emphasize the significance of people in the workplace and the success, or otherwise, of organizations in itself is dehumanizing. This is partly the importance of creativity, a particularly important factor in these hi-tech days where so many routine jobs are being replaced by the use of technology. Also, there is no account of the importance of meaning in people’s lives (Moss, 2009) [31] . Gender based violence in the workplace is a means of unacceptably asserting power over another and cuts across race, class, sexual orientation, and economic status. Put simply, intimate partner violence and other forms of gender based violence and abuse endanger an organization’s most important asset- its employees. The violence can follow victims and perpetrators, resulting in incidents of abuse or harassment in the workplace, or its effect can impact the workplace through decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, health and safety risk and increased healthcare costs for the employer (Expert Group Meeting, 2011) [13] . Therefore, it is essential that violence be seen as a critical and preventable problem, and that it is given the attention given to many other workplace health and safety issues. II. LITERATURE REVIEW Concept of dehumanization Dehumanization is a system of orientation in a person’s world by which people of other groups or categories are not perceived as human as oneself. This is a process by which members of a group of people assert the inferiority of another group through subtle or overt acts or statements and may be directed by an organization or may be the composite of individual sentiments and action. According to Baron and Richardson (1994) [2] dehumanization occurs when an individual views another person in negative ways, which leads to the belief W