What is sexual harassment?

 
The official definition of sexual harassment given by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission to such conduct is made (explicitly or implicitly) a condition of a person’s employment, when submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for employing decisions or when such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with a person’s work performance, or creating an intimidating or offensive working environment. 

This definition covers the college environment as well.  Sexual harassment can occur between students, a student and professor, a student and a staff person, or between college employees.  (SCCC has a no-tolerance policy for sexual harassment of any kind.)

Take note that unwelcome means something that the target doesn't want, that causes discomfort, fear, dissatisfaction or displeasure, but also a behavior that is not involuntary. Sexual conduct is considered harassment when the person subjected to it is not interested in engaging in any kind of sexual behavior with the perpetrator, and having to interact with this person causes significant distress and discomfort.

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Many things can be considered sexual harassment, but a few examples include unwelcome: 

• touching
• pinching
• cornering
• pressure for sexual favors
• rape or attempted rape
• sexual jokes, remarks, questions, gestures and even looks
• pressure for dates
• cat calls
• referring to someone as a hunk, babe, doll, etc.
• asking someone about their sexual preferences or history
• sexual comments about looks or clothing
• making kissing sounds
• spreading rumors or lies about someone’s sexual life 
• neck massage
• winking
• licking lips
• taking photos or videos of a person's body parts without their knowledge and permission

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According to a recent study, sexual harassment is more about control and domination than it is about sexual desire.  Women in supervisory positions are more likely to be the target for sexual harassment in the workplace. 

Men still have the most supervisory positions, so they decide if a complaint that has been brought to their attention is valid.  As such, it's common for a woman who's been sexually harassed in the workplace to be considered the problem or the aggressor. 

Sexual harassment of men occurs but it is less likely to be reported, because most of the time it's not recognized as being sexual harassment.  However, belittling a man for not being masculine enough, for example, is sexual harassment, and it should be reported like any other offense.

If you experience any of these uncomfortable, distressful and unwelcome behaviors, please make a complaint to the Title IX Coordinator at your college or place of employment. (At SCCC, you may contact the Director of Human Resources on the mezzanine of Elston Hall  and/or the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs in Elston 222.)

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(c) Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.