LIVE-IN DOMESTIC WORKERS’ SEXUAL-HARASSMENT COPING STRATEGIES IN DEFENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY, LAHORE

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the coping strategies of live-in domestic workers in dealing with sexual harassment in DHA. Live-in domestic staff, the majority of whom are women, make up one of the most precarious groups in Pakistan’s informal labour market. Despite the important role they play in household livelihood systems, they are at high risk to systemic exploitation including sexual harassment. The sheltered, private spheres of the elite housing schemes - such as the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Lahore where harassment cases often go unreported. The study involved the use of a qualitative semi-structured interview method with 25 live-in female domestic workers and thematic analysis of their responses. Results indicate that workers frequently use silence, avoidance, religious faith, peer support and on rare occasions seeking out help externally. The structural barriers to reporting were fear of job loss, stigma and a lack of legal recourse. The study suggests that coping strategies demonstrate resilience but also reveal systemic inequality and a call for labor protection, gender-sensitive policy development and awareness raising in the DWS of Pakistan.