"Sexual harassment is a type of harassment involving the use of explicit or implicit sexual overtones, including the unwelcome and inappropriate promises of rewards in exchange for sexual favors."
Unwanted and unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that creates a hostile work environment and can be both a form of discrimination and a violation of workplace policies.
Definition of Sexual Harassment: Understanding what constitutes as sexual harassment in the workplace, the different types of sexual harassment, and the effects it can have on individuals and organizational culture.
Legal Framework: Understanding the laws and regulations that govern sexual harassment in the workplace, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), state laws, and recent case law.
Cultural and Social Contexts: Examining broader social and cultural attitudes towards gender and sexuality, and how they intersect with power dynamics in the workplace.
Systems of Power and Privilege: Understanding how systems of power and privilege impact experiences of sexual harassment, and the significance of intersectionality when it comes to workplace harassment.
Communication Strategies: Developing effective communication strategies for responding to sexual harassment in the workplace, including reporting procedures and ways to effectively communicate with supervisors, colleagues, and HR personnel.
Prevention Strategies: Strategies designed to prevent sexual harassment from occurring, such as employee training, education campaigns, and establishing clear policies and procedures around workplace conduct.
Addressing Intersectionality: Understanding how experiences of discrimination can be compounded for individuals who experience both race and gender-based discrimination, and how this can impact experiences of sexual harassment.
Response and Recovery: Understanding how individuals can recover from incidents of sexual harassment, and what recourse they have, including legal action, counseling, and organizational support.
Bystander Intervention: Strategies for bystanders to intervene in situations of harassment, including taking action to support the victim, addressing the perpetrator, and reporting incidents to relevant authorities.
Organizational Culture: Examining how organizational culture can contribute to or prevent sexual harassment, and how leaders can create a culture that values and supports respectful workplace environments.
"Sexual harassment can either be physical or verbal, maybe even both."
"Sexual harassment includes a range of actions from verbal transgressions to sexual abuse or assault."
"Harassment can occur in many different social settings such as the workplace, the home, school, or religious institutions."
"Harassers or victims may be of any sex or gender."
"In modern legal contexts, sexual harassment is illegal."
"Laws surrounding sexual harassment generally do not prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or minor isolated incidents…"
"Harassment may be considered illegal when it is frequent or severe, thereby creating a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision."
"…adverse employment decision (such as the victim's demotion, firing or quitting)."
"The legal and social understanding of sexual harassment, however, varies by culture."
"Sexual harassment by an employer is a form of illegal employment discrimination."
"For many businesses or organizations, preventing sexual harassment and defending employees from sexual harassment charges have become key goals of legal decision-making."
"Laws surrounding sexual harassment generally do not impose a 'general civility code.'"
"Laws surrounding sexual harassment generally do not prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or minor isolated incidents…"
"Harassment can occur in many different social settings such as the workplace, the home, school, or religious institutions."
"Harassers or victims may be of any sex or gender."
"Sexual harassment can either be physical or verbal, maybe even both."
"Harassment may be considered illegal when it is frequent or severe, thereby creating a hostile or offensive work environment…"
"Laws surrounding sexual harassment generally do not prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or minor isolated incidents…"
"The legal and social understanding of sexual harassment, however, varies by culture."