31% of female workers reported that they have been harassed at work
(Sexual Harassment in the Workplace 1)
Sexual harassment has been an increasing problem in work environments for a long time. Sexual harassment affects men and women both young and old. Harassment can vary from inappropriate comments to unwanted touching of someone's body. It can also be considered sexual harassment if an unsafe or hostile work environment is created. Most of the time sexual harassment involves a female being tormented by a male co-worker although incidents have been reported where a man is harassed by a man, a woman is harassed by a woman and a man is harassed by a woman.
_"...sex
discrimination forces women into lower-paying jobs, sexual harassment
helps keep them there"
(Sexual Harassment - Causes of Sexual Harassment 1)
Whenever you have masses of opposite genders working together, some type of problem is bound to arise.
There are numerous causes and reasons that people sexually harass their co-workers. The majority of sexual
harassment is a female being harassed by a male. Most of the time, guys want to feel that they have control
over their female co-workers. They like to feel that they are superior to them even though this is not the case.
Often women are singled out for sexual harassment to deter them from seeking a higher position for fear that
they will still experience the harassment..just on a larger scale.
Whenever you have masses of opposite genders working together, some type of problem is bound to arise.
There are numerous causes and reasons that people sexually harass their co-workers. The majority of sexual
harassment is a female being harassed by a male. Most of the time, guys want to feel that they have control
over their female co-workers. They like to feel that they are superior to them even though this is not the case.
Often women are singled out for sexual harassment to deter them from seeking a higher position for fear that
they will still experience the harassment..just on a larger scale.
"submission to or rejection of such advances, requests or conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment."
(MCAD 1)
The are two types of sexual harassment that can occur. "Quid Pro Quo" and "hostile work environment" harassment.
Quid pro quo harassment is defined as "sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct
of a sexual nature when . . . submission to or rejection of such advances, requests or conduct is made either explicitly or
implicitly a term or condition of employment or as a basis for employment decisions" (MCAD 1). Nobody's employment
should have to depend on whether or not they are willing to partake in sexual activity with an employer or higher authority.
If your opportunities to move up in the company or to earn better benefits is dependent on your compliance with unwanted
sexual activity, you need to reconsider your job.
Quid pro quo harassment is defined as "sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct
of a sexual nature when . . . submission to or rejection of such advances, requests or conduct is made either explicitly or
implicitly a term or condition of employment or as a basis for employment decisions" (MCAD 1). Nobody's employment
should have to depend on whether or not they are willing to partake in sexual activity with an employer or higher authority.
If your opportunities to move up in the company or to earn better benefits is dependent on your compliance with unwanted
sexual activity, you need to reconsider your job.
"Sexual harassment has a cumulative demoralizing effect that discourages women from asserting themselves in the workplace"
("Sexual Harassment - Causes of Sexual Harassment 1)
Sexual harassment does not only have short term effects it also has long term effects.
Being sexually harassed discourages victims from wanting to go into work. If someone is
being sexually harassed at work, they are not going to want to go into work for fear of the
harassment being continued or getting worse. Victims of sexual harassment are more
likely to take unpaid leaves of absence to avoid the harassment and that results in a
lower salary for them.
Being sexually harassed discourages victims from wanting to go into work. If someone is
being sexually harassed at work, they are not going to want to go into work for fear of the
harassment being continued or getting worse. Victims of sexual harassment are more
likely to take unpaid leaves of absence to avoid the harassment and that results in a
lower salary for them.
"Be sure the harasser knows you do not welcome these advances. State your objections clearly when it first begins"
(MDCR 1)
Many times, sexual harassment continues to be a problem because the victim does not make it clear
that they do not welcome the sexual advances. If the harasser is well aware of the victims view of whats
happening and they do not stop the harassment, then the victim has a claim to sexual harassment and can
file a law suit against the harasser. If the victim does not speak up against the harassment or tell their employer
about the issue, the employer can not be held responsible to take the appropriate action. After all, how can you
expect someone to solve a problem they have no knowledge of?
that they do not welcome the sexual advances. If the harasser is well aware of the victims view of whats
happening and they do not stop the harassment, then the victim has a claim to sexual harassment and can
file a law suit against the harasser. If the victim does not speak up against the harassment or tell their employer
about the issue, the employer can not be held responsible to take the appropriate action. After all, how can you
expect someone to solve a problem they have no knowledge of?
"Sexual Harassment in the Workplace." Workharassment.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.
"Discrimination as a Form Of Workplace Control." Sexual Harassment - Causes of Sexual Harassment. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.
"Sexual Harassment - Causes of Sexual Harassment." Sexual Harassment - Causes of Sexual Harassment. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.
"Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination." (MCAD). N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013._
"MDCR - Unlawful Sexual Harassment: How to Recognize It, How to Stop It." Michigan.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.
"Discrimination as a Form Of Workplace Control." Sexual Harassment - Causes of Sexual Harassment. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.
"Sexual Harassment - Causes of Sexual Harassment." Sexual Harassment - Causes of Sexual Harassment. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.
"Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination." (MCAD). N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013._
"MDCR - Unlawful Sexual Harassment: How to Recognize It, How to Stop It." Michigan.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.