According to the United States Equal Opportunity Commission, sexual harassment is defined as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.” This behavior also includes that against a person’s gender.
Sexual harassment is about the victim, meaning it does not matter that the harasser thinks her/his behavior is ok, not offensive, harmless, welcome and/or not sexual. The victim’s perception is what matters - if the victim found the behavior offensive and/or the behavior was not welcome, it can qualify as sexual harassment.
Examples if behavior that could be sexual harassment are:
- Using gender-based or sexual orientation-based slurs.
- Making inappropriate comments about someone’s body or appearance.
- Making derogatory comments and/or jokes about someone or all people of a specific gender or sexual orientation (i.e., “all women are…”).
- Discussing someone’s personal relationships or sex life without permission or in an inappropriate setting and/or context.
- Sending or forwarding emails, texts or messages of a sexual nature.
- Making vulgar, offensive or explicit jokes about sex or sexual acts.
- Unwanted or inappropriate touching of any body part and/or clothing.
- Making unwanted requests for dates or sexual favors.
- Making someone feel threatened (i.e., blocking a female coworker's path to an exit or standing in a doorway so a female cannot escape).
- Catcalling.
This is not an exhaustive list.
