Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is a type of harassment involving the use of explicit or implicit sexual overtones, including unwelcome or inappropriate promises of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. It includes a range of actions from mild transgressions to sexual abuse or assault.

Definition

Sexual harassment is defined by the United Nations as "any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that interferes with work, is made a condition of employment, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment."

Types

Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The harasser can be anyone, such as a client, a co-worker, a parent or legal guardian, a teacher or professor, a student, a friend, or a stranger.
• The victim does not have to be the person directly harassed but can be anyone who finds the behavior offensive and is affected by it.
• The place of occurrence could be in public, such as on public transport or in the street, or in private settings, like at home or at work.

Legal aspects

In many countries, sexual harassment is a form of illegal employment discrimination. For example, in the United States, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

See also

• Sexual assault
• Workplace harassment
• Bullying
• Sexual abuse
• Discrimination

References

Sexual harassment Resources
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