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Practical definition of sexual harassment
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The Practical Definition of Sexual Harassment
In practical terms, there are two kinds of sexual harassment which may generally be described as follows:
Quid Pro Quo:
In which employment or educational decisions or expectations (e.g.,
hiring decisions, promotions, salary increases, shift or work
assignments, performance expectations, grades) are based on
employee's/students' submission to unwelcome sexual advances. Examples
of quid pro quo harassment:
- Demanding sexual favors in exchange for a promotion, raise, or grade
- Disciplining or firing a subordinate/student because of a romantic relationship
- Changing performance expectations/grades after a subordinate/student refuses repeated requests for a date
Hostile Environment: In which verbal or non-verbal behavior in the workplace or academic environment
- Focuses on the sexuality of another person or occurs because of the person's gender;
- Is unwanted or unwelcomed; and
- Is severe or pervasive enough to affect the person's work/academic environment
The following are examples that can create a hostile environment if unwanted, uninvited, and pervasive:
- Off-color jokes or teasing
- Comments about body parts or sex life
- Suggestive pictures, posters, calendars or cartoons
- Leering, stares, or inappropriate gestures
- Repeated requests for dates
- Excessive attention in the form of love letters, telephone calls, text messages, or gifts
- Touching-brushes, pats, hugs, shoulder rubs or pinches