SEXUAL HARASSMENT VOCABULARY AND CONCEPTS
T T F F True or False? Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. Sexual harassment is illegal in all 50 states. If you are being sexually harassed, you must confront the person who is harassing you. Your employer can fire you for complaining about sexual harassment at work.
T T F F True or False? It is your employer s responsibility to protect you from sexual harassment at work. Often, people do not file a complaint about sexual harassment because they are afraid that no one will believe them. A single non-threatening act, like asking a co-worker for a date, is sexual harassment. An employee must be physically touched in order for an incident to count as sexual harassment.
SEXISM Discrimination of people on the basis of gender. Ex. Firefighting is a man s job. Taking care of children is women s work. How can these attitudes create conflict in the workplace?
SEX OBJECT Someone defined only by their sexuality. No consideration of their feelings, personality, and rights. Ex. Women are meant to be seen, not heard. Ex. I don t care what his IQ is, I just want him for a play toy. How can this attitude create problems in relationships?
DISCRIMINATION Partiality in treatment/judgment. Ex. A man and a woman have equal qualifications and capabilities for a job. The employer goes with the male because it is work meant for a man. Ex. A woman is not hired for a job because it is assumed she will be too emotional.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT Sexual innuendo, jokes, comments, rumors, abusive written material, graffiti, gestures, and persistent and unwanted attention. Innuendo = Indirect or subtle. Does the definition of sexual harassment mean the same thing to all people? Therein lies the problem! Can it be easily solved with some common sense?
The video clip on the next slide is from a TED talk. The speaker is a British woman named Laura Bates who eloquently puts into words the impact that sexism and sexual harassment can have on women and gives great advice about what we can all do to effect change!
Flirting vs. Harassing Flirting Behaviors Winking. Making eye contact. Calling by a fun and wanted nickname. Joking and teasing. Sending fun texts. Sexually Harassing Behaviors Calling profane names. Making threats. Unwanted pinching, grabbing, patting, pressing, etc. Following someone or blocking their way. Posting lewd gestures or pictures.
Flirting vs. Harassing What Flirting feels like What sexual harassment feels like Silly, good-natured, playful. It feels nice to be noticed, boosts self-esteem. You feel attracted to the person. You feel in control, it is wanted, it is mutual. Exciting, feels good. Threatening, scary. Uncomfortable, uneasy, unwanted. Disgusting or demeaning, feels bad. You can t believe it just happened. Embarrassing, seems like the other person is in control.
INTENT The purpose of the action. Intent means a lot in the area of sexual harassment. Intent, however, is not always easy to prove! This is why it is important for the receiver of the behavior to make it clear that it was unwanted and/or inappropriate. This allows for the sender to change their ways. (Are there times though, when someone shouldn t have to communicate that the behavior is wrong?)
PHYSICAL SEXUAL CONDUCT Grabbing, groping, touching in inappropriate places. These behaviors can rank at the assault level. This can happen in the workplace, in the hallways of your school, at public concerts/events, crowded elevators, etc.
SEXUAL ADVANCE Requesting sexual activity or favors. Obvious example: Asking for sex. Additional example: Asking a subordinate to dress provocatively for work. A more common example for your age group: asking someone to send sexual pictures of themselves to you.
The dangers of Sexting If you are a minor you could be charged with distribution of child pornography. If you take a sexual picture of yourself and send it you have lost control of how it will be used/shared.
SEXUAL FAVORS Sexual acts meant to gratify the other person. This type of harassment is often used in a manipulative way. Ex. Offering to give something in return (a raise, better hours, etc.).
VERBAL SEXUAL CONDUCT Requests, comments, spreading rumors. Ex. Making comments or asking questions about someone s sex life. Ex. Spreading rumors about someone s intimate activities whether they be true or not!
COERCE To influence someone to do something through the use of power, intimidation, or threats. People in positions of power may include: A boss/employer, a teacher, a coach, a minister/priest, the abuser in an abusive relationship, an older relative, etc.
IMPLICIT Not clearly stated. Example: A boss to an employee says, I heard you want the promotion. Why don t we talk it out over dinner and wine at my place? Innocent or not, how could this create a potential problem in the workplace?
EXPLICIT Clearly stated. Saying exactly what is meant. Example: A boss to an employee says, I hear you want the promotion. How about you have sex with me and I ll see what I can do to help you? Explicit language is rarely used in sexual harassing situations. This is why it can be so hard to define or prove.
EXPLOIT To use someone for your own advantage or profit without consideration of their feelings. Ex. Girls Gone Wild. - Many of the girls are minors and are drunk when asked to flash. Ex. Howard Stern inviting women on his show to undress and critique as though they were horses. This is a societal problem. The blame should not be directed only at men. Women are contributing to the negative stereotypes by agreeing to be a part of it.
SUBMIT To yield to the action, control, or power of another. Why might individuals choose to submit to behaviors when it comes to sexual harassment?
LIABILITY To be legally bound or obligated. Ellensburg High School Harassment Policy- Harassment will not be tolerated or condoned anywhere on School District property and will result in disciplinary action, may include suspension or expulsion. Sexual Harassment may include: verbal harassment or abuse; subtle pressure for sexual activity; inappropriate patting or pinching; intentional brushing against a student s or an employee s body; demanding sexual favors accompanied by implied or overt threats concerning an individual s employment or educational status; demanding sexual favors accompanied by implied or overt promises of preferential treatment with regard to an individual s employment or educational status; or unwelcome sexually motivated touching.
Types of sexual harassment
Quid Pro Quo Definition: This for that. You do this for me and I ll do that for you. (You scratch my back, I ll scratch yours) Example: Boss tells secretary that if she/he wants a promotion they must submit to the request for sex.
Quid Pro Quo Examples of Threats Not getting hired. Getting fired or a bad evaluation. Not getting a raise or promotion. Being excluded from a group. Examples of Rewards Getting hired. Getting a promotion. Getting a raise or special treatment. Getting a preferred work schedule or assignment. Being included as part of a group. Getting a better grade or review on an evaluation.
HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT Definition Definition: Unwelcome sexual behaviors that interfere with a person s ability to function within an environment that they have the right to be in. Examples Regular use of sexually offensive language. Sexual jokes. Sexual gestures. Sexual pictures or graphic calendars. Lewd notes/texts. Sexual graffiti. An incident of sexual assault.
Consider this Is it fair or reasonable to expect a student transfer to a different class to avoid the harassing behavior of those around them? Is it fair or reasonable to ask people to just not look when there is visually offensive material on the desks around them/or in the lockers in the hall? Is it fair or reasonable to ask someone to ignore offensive behavior that occurs in the break room? (A place that employees are expected to take their contracted breaks in?)
What should you do if you are being sexually harassed? What is the responsibility of the person being harassed? If at all possible, tell the harasser that it is unwelcome and unwanted. What is the responsibility of the potential harasser? To respect the person s wishes, apologize, and leave them alone.
What should you do if the harassment won t stop? Report it to a responsible adult that you trust. In the workplace: Your immediate supervisor or Human Resources representative. In School: A teacher, counselor, or administrator.
Look at the following scenarios and consider whether or not they are sexual harassment and if so, what kind
Sexual Harassment Yes or No? Keiko has been working at the front desk at a hotel for a year. She really enjoys her job and has been promised a raise. Her boss Dave, who is much older than her, has implied that Keiko will only receive the raise if she agrees to go out with him.
Outcome: Yes sexual harassment Quid Pro Quo. Report behavior to Dave s supervisor or the Human Resources Department.
Sexual Harassment Yes or No? The local electronics plant is the biggest employer in town. Everyone eats lunch in the same room during break. All workers have to pass through a hallway in order to get to the lunch room. Frequently, a group of male works hangs out in the hallway and makes comments about the female workers appearance as they pass by. They rate the women on a scale of 1 to 10.
Outcome: Yes sexual harassment Hostile work environment. Report behavior to supervisor or Human Resources Department.
Sexual Harassment Yes or No? Julia got an internship working at a veterinarian hospital where she helps with animal care. Her co-worker Libby has an off-color sense of humor. Libby is constantly telling dirty jokes about both men and women to the hospital staff. Julia doesn t find the jokes funny, but just tries to ignore them.
Outcome: Not sexual harassment Libby doesn t target a specific gender, so her behavior is not a form of sex discrimination. Her jokes are about both men and women and she tells them to everybody. Libby could be disciplined and/or fired for her unprofessional conduct.
Sexual Harassment Yes or No? Carl is 19 years old. He works at a hardware store, helping load lumber and boxes into customer s vehicles. Carl s co-worker, Frank, constantly calls Carl a wimp or a fag. Several times, Frank has even slapped Carl on the butt as he walked by. When Carl told Frank to stop touching him, Frank said, Isn t that what you want, fag? Carl is angry and can t stand to be around Frank anymore.
Outcome: Yes sexual harassment Frank is acting inappropriately towards Carl based on an assumption about his sexuality. This is an example of Hostile environment.
Sexual Harassment Yes or No? Nisha was recently hired to work for a small internet company. Lyle, one of her coworkers, downloaded a screen saver on his computer, which displays a famous modernart painting. One part of the painting shows a nude female body. Nisha must walk by Lyle s desk many times a day. She is offended by the imagery.
Outcome: Not sexual harassment The imagery on Lyle s computer is not considered offensive. For ex. Pornography carries with it the intent to illicit a sexual response/feeling. An art piece of a nude body is not considered pornography. Some workplaces may have policies in place about screen savers, etc. and may not allow for personal pictures or preferences to be used.
Should you be surprised? Are the women being too sensitive? Your supervisor just called you into his office to inform you that two of your co-workers have just made a complaint about you, saying that you have been sexually harassing them. They give examples of you putting your arm around them, and interrupting their work with dirty jokes. You are surprised by their allegation. You just wanted to have a little fun at work.
Outcome: Probably not sexual harassment Your behavior wasn t targeting a specific coworker or a specific gender. However if the jokes targeted a specific gender, such as always being degrading towards women, then your behavior could possibly be seen as sexual harassment. Regardless of above, you could still be disciplined or even fired for inappropriate or unprofessional behavior.
Is Bob sexually harassing Candice? Candice is a carpenter s apprentice working with an all-male crew. She gets along with everyone on the crew except for Bob. He seemed to have it out for her from the day she started work. As time went on, someone sabotaged one of her projects and hid her tools. Due to tampering, she was unable to complete her project on time, which made her look bad. Candice heard that Bob also caused problems for the last apprentice, Adam.
Outcome: Not sexual harassment The harassment is not sexual in nature. He has targeted both a male and female. Bob is being a jerk. Bob should be fired for that alone.
Do women harass men? Keith, who is 19 and good looking, is the only man who works with the secretarial staff at a law office. Trisha and Judy have been hanging around his desk and flirting with him. They ask a lot of questions about his personal dating life and talk about how they would make better girlfriends. Trisha sometimes pats Keith on the butt and says Nice ass. When Keith goes to his supervisor to complain she says he should get used to this kind of behavior if he is going to work in an office full of women.
Outcome: Yes sexual harassment Women are touching Keith and making comments about his body. Beth told Keith to just get used to it. Unacceptable. This is Hostile environment. Keith should contact Human Resources. Why might men be even less inclined than women to report incidents like this?
Final Thoughts How much of this issue can be PREVENTED by simple respect, maturity, and professionalism? It s ok to disagree with the laws. But be aware this could effect you negatively in the workplace. Are women and men being too sensitive by choosing to let sexually harassing behaviors get to them? Or should it be a basic right to be treated with respect? How would you want the people you care about to be treated?