Sexual Harassment Defined
Sexual harassment is bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. Harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment can includes a range of behavior from mild transgressions (like jokes or innuendos) to sexual abuse or sexual assault, but laws against sexual harassment typically don't prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or minor isolated incidents. In the workplace, harassment may be considered illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment, or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted, or when the victim decides to quit the job). Sexual harassment may occur in a variety of circumstances. Often, but not always, the harasser is in a position of power or authority over the victim (due to differences in age, level of employment, or years with the company). For many businesses and other organizations, preventing sexual harassment—and addressing any incidents of it— has become a major priority within their ranks.
Effect on Victims
Effects of sexual harassment can vary depending on the individual victim and the severity and duration of the harassment. Psychologists and social workers report that severe or chronic sexual harassment can have the same psychological effects as rape or sexual assault. Victims who do not submit to harassment may also experience other forms of harassment including retaliation in the form of isolation or bullying. Common psychological effects of sexual harassment and retaliation that could affect your academic, professional, financial or social life include:
- Decreased work or school performance as a result of stress conditions, including increased absenteeism in fear of repeated harassment;
- Fear of being fired or refused a promotion or job opportunity; loss of job or career, and loss of income;
- Having one's personal life offered up for public scrutiny—the victim becomes the "accused," and his or her person, appearance, lifestyle, and private life can often come under attack;
- Becoming publicly sexualized (i.e. groups of people "evaluate" the victim to establish if he or she is "worth" the sexual attention or the risk to the harasser's career);
- Defamation of character and reputation;
- Loss of trust in environments similar to where the harassment occurred;
- Loss of trust in the types of people that occupy similar positions as the harasser or his or her colleagues; difficulties or stress with peer relationships, or relationships with colleagues;
- Extreme stress on relationships with significant others, including personal sexual life, sometimes resulting in divorce;
- Weakening of support network, or being ostracized from professional or academic circles (friends, colleagues, or family may distance themselves from the victim, or shun him or her altogether);
- Having to relocate to another city, another job, or another school.
Organizational Policies and Procedures
When organizations do not take the satisfactory measures for properly investigating sexual harassment, do not offer psychological counseling and guidance, or just decide to ignore the problem or not take it seriously, this could lead to:
- Decreased productivity and increased team conflict;
- Decreased study or job satisfaction;
- Loss of students or staff;
- Resignations of alleged harassers;
- Increased absenteeism by staff or students experiencing harassment;
- Decrease in success at meeting academic or financial goals;
- Increased health care costs and sick pay costs because of the health consequences of harassment and/or retaliation;
- High jury awards for the victim of the harassment;
If the problem is ignored or not treated properly, a company's or school's image can suffer. Moreover, the knowledge that harassment is permitted can undermine the ethical standards of the organization in general, as staff and/or students lose respect for, and trust in, their superiors or supervisors who indulge in, turn a blind eye to, or handle incidents of sexual harassment improperly.
Studies show that the organizational climate (an organization's tolerance, policies, procedures, etc.) and workplace environment are essential for understanding the conditions in which sexual harassment is likely to occur, and the way its victims will be affected. According to Dr. Orit Kamir, the most effective way to avoid sexual harassment in the workplace, and also influence the public's state of mind, is for the employer to adopt a clear policy prohibiting sexual harassment and to make it very clear to his or her employees.
Sexual Harassment In the Military
Historically, sexual harassment has been prevalent in the military. Pictured here are members of I.A.M. Strong, the Army's campaign to combat sexual harassment and sexual assaults.