Empower Your Future

What is Sexual Harassment?

The Oxford Dictionary defines Sexual Harassment as  “Behavior characterized by the making of unwelcome and inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances in a workplace or other professional or social situation.” Sexual Harassment includes, “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.”

Sexual Harassment can happen anywhere and “does not have to be of a sexual nature, however. It can include offensive remarks about a person’s sex. Also, “harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted)."

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Putting It In Perspective

The Harvard Business Review found that that 71% of cases go unreported.

Why is this important?

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1 in 3 don't think catcalling is considered sexual harassment

2 in 3 don't think repeated unwanted invitations to drinks, dinner or dates is sexual harassment

1 in 5 don’t think sexual harassment is a fireable offense

First Type of Sexual Harassment

1. “Quid pro quo” sexual harassment​

When a person in authority puts conditions on grades or participation in extracurricular activities, dependent on the student’s willingness to submit to sexual activity

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- A teacher lowering a grade if a student refuses their sexual

  advances

- A coach basing team assignments on the athlete’s

  willingness to  submit to sexual advances

Second Type of Sexual Harassment

2. “Hostile environment” sexual harassment

When unwanted sexual conduct interferes with an individual’s ability to learn or feel safe in the school environment.

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- Offensive language & notes

-  Vulgar graffiti

- Unwanted physical contact