Sexual Harassment

Harassment is a less-understood component of sexual violence. Sexual Harassment is unwelcome sexual attention which can involve intimidation, threats, coercion or promises. There are two types of sexual harassment, Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment. Quid pro quo harassment occurs when a person in a position of power pressures another person to meet his/her sexual demands. It means literally, "this for that". Hostile environment harassment occurs when repeated, unwelcome behavior or comments focus on the sexuality of another person or occurs because of the person's sex and unreasonably affects the person's educational or working environment. Unwanted sexual comments or inappropriate touching on a one-time basis may also create hostile environment harassment. Both types may occur between anyone, although generally sexual harassment occurs when one person (the harasser) holds a position of real or perceived authority over the other individual (teacher-student, boss-employee, TA-student, etc.). Harassment can occur anywhere (residence halls, classrooms, offices, workplaces, etc), and between any variety of individuals of any gender or sexual orientation. Some people may use the excuse that harassing behavior is just flirting. However, harassment is not an effective way to let another person know you find her or him attractive. It does not stimulate the other person's interest in getting to know you better. Some examples of sexual harassment include:

Physical	Non-Verbal	Verbal
Touching/Grabbing	Staring	Profanity
Patting	Blowing Kisses	Sexual Jokes
Pinching	Sexual or Profane Gestures	Sexual Compliments
Bumping	Displaying Sexually Orientated Material	Hooting, Sucking, Lip-Smacking, Animal Noises
Cornering	Giving Unwelcome Gifts	Unwanted Sexual Advances
Invading Space	Excluding Women/Men from Meetings	Pressure for Dates
Unsolicited Neck or Back Rubs	Sabotaging Women's/Men's Work	Comments About Women's/Men's Bodies
Unwelcome Hugging	Sexist Graffiti	Tales of Sexual Exploits
"Accidentally" Brushing Sexual Parts of the Body	Emailed or Written Sexual Comments/Jokes
--from The Human Equation

How to tell the difference between flirting and sexual harassment:

Sexual Harassment	Flirting
Is one-sided	Is reciprocal
Makes other person feel unattractive	Makes other person feel attractive
Is degrading	Is a compliment
Makes other person feel powerless	Makes other person feel in control
Is power-based	Promotes equality
May involve negative touching	May involve positive touching
Is unwanted and invading	Is wanted
Makes other person feel sad/angry	Makes other person feel happy
Generates negative self-esteem	Promotes positive self-esteem
Is illegal	Is legal

Myths About Sexual Harassment

• Sexual harassment is no big deal because most women enjoy the attention, whether they admit it or not.
• Sexual harassment is harmless, just a little humor, a break in the day...how could this hurt anyone?
• Sexual harassment complaints are trivial or frivolous, especially by women who don't have a man...
• Anyone can tell she asked for it; just look at the clothes she wears!
• He'll stop when she keeps ignoring him.
• He must not be getting any at home.
• Sure, making unwanted passes at a woman is juvenile, but what's the harm? He'll eventually get tired of it and stop.
• If it were really going on, I would know about it.
• I never touched her; all I did was tease her.
• Most sexual harassment claims are just ways for someone to get even or get attention.
• Sexual harassment only happens to women.
• Can't she take a joke? It was meant to be harmless.
• It's not sexual harassment if it's between people of the same gender.
• Boys will be boys.

Facts About Sexual Harassment

• It is about power and control, not about consensual relationships. The people who have greater power and control - economic, physical, or emotional - have traditionally been men.
• It is never harmless, and therefore never welcome or "asked for." Sexual harassment can be words or conduct, or both. Obscene gestures, crude messages and drawings of sexual acts, or vulgar jokes, for example, have the power to create a toxic and offensive work environment. Continuous comments such as "great legs," "babe" or "what's a girl like you doing sitting with the tough decision makers," set women apart due to gender, and are demeaning, humiliating, insulting, and intimidating, and interfere with job performance. Unchecked pervasive sexual intimidation can result in feelings of shame, embarrassment, guilt, helplessness, and emotional trauma affecting the personal and professional life of the individual.

If you are sexually harassed, you may feel confused, ashamed, guilty, fearful or powerless. You may lose motivation or self-esteem, and may choose to drop a class, leave the job or switch majors/careers. People may choose to not report sexual harassment for a variety of reasons including fear of retaliation by the harasser. Ignorance about the difference between harassment and a compliment is no excuse. It helps to have honest conversations with people who are willing to educate you.