• To contact an SOS Victim Advocate, call the UD Helpline 24/7/365 at 302-831-1001 and press 1. The clinician will check to make sure you are safe, then take a first name & phone number and have an Advocate call you back within 10 minutes.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, defined as unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

  • Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic advancement; or
  • Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions or academic decisions affecting such individual; or
  • Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment.

—————————————————————

Examples of unwanted physical contact that might be considered sexual harassment, which can range from offensive behavior to criminal acts:

  • touching that is inappropriate in the workplace or classroom, such as patting, pinching, stroking, groping, or brushing up against the body
  • cornering or mauling
  • invading another’s “personal space”
  • attempted or actual kissing or fondling
  • physical assault
  • coerced sexual relations
  • any unwanted sexual touching, attempted rape or rape
  • giving a massage around the neck or shoulders
  • touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person
  • exposing one’s underwear or genitals
  • intentionally blocking another person’s path

Examples of gestures or non-verbal behaviors that might be considered sexual harassment:

  • sexual looks such as leering, staring, ogling with suggestive overtones
  • licking lips or teeth, winking, throwing kisses
  • holding or eating food provocatively/sexually
  • lewd gestures to denote sexual activity
  • staring at an individual, looking the person up and down (elevator eyes) or staring at a certain body part (chest, bottom)

Examples of verbal behavior that might constitute sexual harassment are:

  • continuous idle chatter of a sexual nature and graphic sexual descriptions
  • sexual slurs, sexual innuendos and other comments about a person’s clothing, body, and/or sexual behaviors or sexual orientation
  • offensive and persistent risque jokes or jesting and kidding about sex or gender-specific traits
  • suggestive or insulting sounds such as whistling, wolf calls or kissing sounds
  • sexually provocative comments or compliments
  • comments of a sexual nature about weight, body shape, size or figure
  • comments about the sensuality of a person, or his/her spouse or significant other
  • distribution or display of written or graphic materials that are derogatory and of a sexual nature
  • repeated unsolicited propositions for dates and/or sex
  • asking about sexual fantasies, preferences or history

Examples of online/technology abuse that might constitute sexual harassment are:

  • any of the above abuses that takes place online
  • monitoring a person’s whereabouts using technological means (social media, gps tracking, etc.) and using this information to harass or stalk
  • unsolicited propositions for a date or sex, or sexually inappropriate comments/photos posted about a person via text messages, email, social media, online gaming, online discussion site or forum, dating website, an app, etc.
  • name-calling, trolling, threats, or stalking conducted online
  • unwanted sexting – when a person texts a nude photo of themselves, or a photo of a specific body part
  • revenge porn – often after a breakup, when a disgruntled ex publicly posts a nude photo or sex video of their ex-partner (even if the photo or video was initially taken with consent)

Comments are closed