Greek Word of the Week 5/2021

παρενόχληση (parenokhlisi) = harassment, especially σεξουαλική παρενόχληση, sexual harassment.

Making a change from the stressful boredom of endless Corona updates and scaremongering about new strains and mutations, the “Me Too” movement has finally arrived in Greece. It began around two weeks ago when a female athlete accused her former trainer of abuse. By the end of last week accusations had hit the entertainment world. I anticipate it spreading to the professional and business world before long.

To date, the highest profile casualty is one of Greece’s most loved comic actors, Petros Filippides. He has experienced a fall much like Kevin Spacey’s. He’s been pulled from TV programs and other dramatic projects. The latest on him is that he’s moved out of Athens.

Three actresses accused him of “σοβαρές πράξεις αντισυναδελφικής κι αντιεπαγγελματικής συμπεριφοράς που προσέβαλαν την γενετήσια αξιοπρέπειά τους” – serious anti-collegial and unprofessional acts that attacked their sexual dignity. The above quote is from my favourit online newspaper www.iefimerida.gr

γενετήσιος appears to be the legal and medical word for ‘sexual’.

The scandal is spreading, involving adult and underage victims in both heterosexual and homosexual situations. Two hashtags #ειμαστεολοιμαζι (#wearealltogether) #ηαγαπηκανειθαυματα (#loveworksmiracles) have appeared.

παρενόχληση is a combination of the prefix παρα (= over) and the more innocent verb ενοχλώ (= annoy).

Related words are:

παρενοχλώ = harass

ανενόχλητος = undisturbed, unperturbed

ενόχληση = annoyance

ενοχλητικός = annoying

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