Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment Defined

Sexual harassment is any unwanted sexual or 
gender-based behavior that occurs when one 
person has formal or informal power over the 
other.

There are two kinds of sexual harassment:

Quid pro quo ("This for that")
This may occur in a relationship where the 
harasser has more formal power than the 
victim.  A harasser may make sexual demands 
in exchange for providing higher (or fair) 
pay or grades for the victim.  A single 
documented incident is illegal.

Hostile environment
This is the most common form of harassment, 
in which the victim's work or school 
opportunities are compromised by the prevalence 
of the unwanted behavior.  A documented pattern
must be shown in order to take legal action.

Sexual harassment can happen in a 
variety of ways:

VISUAL: public pornographic images, sexual 
 gestures, staring, exposing private parts.

AURAL: sexual rumors, repeated and unwanted 
invitations, comments about one's body or 
clothing, sexual jokes.

PHYSICAL: blocking one's path, invading one's 
personal space, unwanted sexual or bodily contact.

Sexual Harassment vs. Flirting: Know the Difference!

Feels "bad"
Is one-sided
Makes you feel unattractive
Is degrading
Makes you feel powerless
Is power-based
May include negative touching
Is unwanted
Is illegal
Makes you feel sad/angry

Feels "good"
Is shared
Makes you feel attractive
Is a compliment
Makes you feel in control
Is based on equality
May include positive touching
Is wanted
Is legal
Makes you feel happy

How to Respond to Sexual Harassment
Confrontation is a forceful response to unwelcome behavior and the deliberate abuse of power of sexual 
harassment.  Follow these nine basic steps to end the harassment safely.


1.  Name the behavior.  Whatever the harasser has done, say it and be specific.  You have stepped out of the 
victim box and surprised the harasser.

2.  Hold the harasser accountable for the behavior.  Take charge of the encounter and let people know 
what the harasser did.  Privacy protects harassers, but visibility undermines them.

3.  Make honest, direct statements.  Speak the truth (no threats, obscenities, no verbal fluff.)  Be serious, 
straightforward and blunt.

4.  Demand that the harassment stop.

5.  Make it clear that everyone has the right to be free from sexual harassment.  Objecting to the 
harassment is a matter of principle.

6.  Stick to your agenda.  Don't respond to the harasser's excuses or diversionary tactics.  The behavior is 
the issue.  Say what you have to say and repeat it if he/she persists.

7.  Reinforce your statements with strong, self-respecting body language: eye contact, head up, 
shoulders back, a strong, serious stance.  Don't smile.  Timid, submissive body language will undermine 
your message.

8.  Respond at the appropriate level.  It is not usually necessary to blast the harasser.  Fine-tuning the 
confrontation takes practice.

9.  End the interaction on your own terms, with a strong closing statement: "You heard me.  Stop the 
harassment."

How YOU Can Help End Sexual Harassment

Speak up when encountering bigoted jokes, including jokes about women.  If most people realize 
how rude it is to tell jokes about people of different ethnicities and cultures, it should not be acceptable to 
reinforce negative stereotypes and perceptions of women through crude jokes.

Be more than a bystander.  Do not be afraid to speak up and let the harasser know you don't approve of 
the behavior.  While you can't presume to know if/how the behavior offends the recipient, you can report 
sexual harassment as a third party.  Harassment creates an unsafe environment for everybody!

Participate in a group confrontation of a known harasser.  There is a lot of power in groups identifying 
the unacceptable behavior and telling the harasser that they will no longer put up with it.

Support victims of harassment in both words and actions.  Offer to help them find a solution.  There 
are many reasons why a victim may hesitate to come forward:  fear, self-blame, shame.  When they make a 
choice to report, they need your support.  Remember, there are very few false reports of harassment and no 
one ever asks to be a victim!

Encourage the reporting of sexual harassment.  Until the behavior is identified and challenged, 
harassers WILL continue to objectify, threaten, and humiliate others.