Goonj Shows Us What Workplace Harassment Can Look Like For Women, And Why It’s Not Always Easy to Call Out!
In a drama that’s only 2 episodes old, Goonj just put a spin on workplace harassment, what it looks like without all the blatant signs and glaring red flags, yet, even more toxic and sinister.
Nabeel’s character, essayed by Mirza Gohar Rasheed, has but one purpose, and that is to constantly harass Zarnab played by Komal Meer, with a snide remark, an uncomfortable stare, or merely dropping insinuations targeting Zarnab’s attire or professional competence at work.
The negativity is masked enough not to be called out by Zarnab, yet, it’s substantial enough to ruffle her calm, giving her a daily personal and professional challenge – to get through the day at work without crashing – just what Nabeel wants her to do.
However Zarnab does not resort to reporting him, primarily because she is an independent, self sufficient individual who prefers to focus on her work, and perhaps also because Nabeel’s behaviour is subtle enough to be brushed off, and possibly, not something she can prove or pin down with evidence.
What’s relatable about Goonj and Zarnab’s workplace challenge is the manner in which she carries on with her work day, not letting it become a nuisance (although it is). And this, not because she fears him, but because she probably believes she should be able to handle her problems and resolve them independently, which she has been doing all along.
When Nabeel comments on Zarnab’s outfit, it is only she who hears the comment. When he interferes in her advert shoot, it is done with a clear purpose to unnerve her in public so that she loses her cool and lashes out at him, showing her colleagues that she cannot stay composed and is possibly not fit or competent to lead the shoot.
What also stands out in the interactions between the two, is how women in real life work situations often find it hard to prove that they are being harassed because of the manner in which it is done – covert, subtle, yet toxic enough for the person being harassed to know it is targeted at them.
Nabeel’s intent is obvious – to cause mental and emotional torment to Zarnab and destroy her peace of mind at work, hence affecting her performance.
How he goes about it is where the entire team at Goonj, and both Komal Meer and Gohar Rasheed deserve a shout out.
Add to this formula, a third person, Ahmed, played by Feroz Kadri, Zarnab’s colleague, who can see exactly what Nabeel is up to, but his standing up for Zarnab can also harm her rather than help the situation.
As Zarnab tells him to back off, warning him that his outward support might give people the wrong ideas, assuming there is something more to their relationship.
Feroz Kadri is doing a great job as Ahmed and showing us what versatility looks like onscreen, having just completed Dastak recently.
Finally, many women will relate to Zarnab’s silence in the workplace as a desire not to draw unnecessary attention to themselves, and a need to be recognised, applauded and acknowledged, solely for their work and not any other reason, at a workplace that is still dominated by men.
Goonj, in just two eisodes, aptly highlights that despite growing participation by women in the workforce, the challenges they face are sometimes not always as evident as a demand for equal pay, maternity leave or promotion, they appear in many shapes and forms, and we might yet need to devise ways on how to combat them through mentoring, counseling and unfortunately, in the men we raise as a society – facilitators and not predators for the other half.
