SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Sexual harassment is again in the news. And whether you believe the allegations or the denials, sexual harassment needs to be discussed and understood.
Sexual harassment is considered a from of sex discrimination that includes "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, other verbal or physical conduct a sexual nature constitutes when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's
employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or
creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment... . THE Harasser
CONDUCT MUST BE UNWELCOME.
The U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
WHERE CAN SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAPPEN?
ANY PLACE WHERE A POWER DIFFERENTIAL IS PRESENT:
WORK, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, SCHOOLS, ETC.
WHO HARASSES?
A MAN OR WOMAN WHO IS PERCEIVED TO WIELD POWER OVER another.
A MAN OR WOMAN WHO believes THAT HIS/HER RIGHT TO
IMPOSE HER/HIS WILL/VIEWS OF THE OPPOSITE/SAME SEX IS ACCEPTABLE REGARDLESS OF THE VICTIM'S REQUEST THAT HE/SHE STOP
THE BEHAVIOR/LANGUAGE/Innuendoes, ETC.
WHO ARE THE VICTIMS?
MEN OR WOMEN WHO PERCEIVE THEMSELVES TO BE AT THE
MERCY OF THEIR "SUPERIOR" WHETHER A SUPERVISOR, CO-WORKER, CUSTOMER, PROFESSOR,
PHYSICIAN, ETC.
HOW IS THE HARASSED PERSON AFFECTED?
a victim of sexual harassment EXPERIENCES MANY OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS A RAPE
VICTIM:
DEPRESSION
ANXIETY
FEAR/Hyper vigilance
FEELINGS
OF ISOLATION AND SHAME
HOPELESSNESS
HELPLESSNESS
ANGER
REDUCED
Productivity
Reduced CONCENTRATION SKILLS
SLEEP/EATING/SOCIALIZATION
Disturbance, ETC.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER:
NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO CREATE AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ANOTHER.
NO ONE CAN DEFINE FOR ANOTHER WHAT DOES/DOES NOT FEEL SAFE.
IF YOU ARE FEELING HARMED OR UNSAFE IN ANY WAY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO TELL THE PERSON DIRECTLY THAT YOU WISH THE BEHAVIOR TO STOP.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO TELL A SUPERVISOR.
IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT THAT SOMEONE IS CHOOSING TO HARASS YOU.
YOU DID NOT ASK TO BE HARASSED.
YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO BE HARASSED.
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