SEXUAL HARRASSMENT
SOURCE: Intent vs Impact, 1988, Bureau of National Affairs

Sexual Harassment Happens When ...

  • a student/employee is subject to unwelcome sexual advances and giving in could be the basis for grading, firing, hiring, or advancement

  • any type of unwelcome sexual behavior (physical, verbal, or non-verbal) creates a hostile classroom/college/work environment.

Examples:

Physical behaviors:
-- Patting, touching, or other unwelcome bodily contact.
-- Following a person.

Verbal behaviors:
-- Making sexual comments about a person's clothing, body, or looks.
-- Sexually oriented jokes or remarks.

Non-verbal behaviors:
-- Displaying sexually suggestive pictures that humiliate or embarrass.
-- Repeated glances or stares.

Sexual Harassment Is Illegal

Need help or have questions, please contact:

EEO/AA Coordinator
Honolulu Community College
Building 6, Second Floor
Phone 847-9843

Director of EEO/AA for the Community Colleges
2327 Dole Street, Room 3
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Phone 956-4650

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
677 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 404
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone 541-3120

Hawaii Civil Rights Commission
888 Mililani Street, 2nd Floor
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone 586-8636

Office of Civil Rights
915 Second Street, Room 3310
Seattle, Washington 98174
Phone (206) 220-7900

For confidential counseling if you are sexually assaulted:
The Sex Abuse Treatment Center's 24-hour Hotline
Phone 524-7273

Examples of Sexually Harassing Behaviors

It is not necessary to prove that physical harassment occured. It is sufficient to demonstrate that a "hostile" or "offensive working environment" was created by unwanted or unwelcomed behaviors which have affected work performance.

TYPES OF HARASSMENT KINDS OF BEHAVIORS
TYPE ONE
(Quid Pro Quo) Actual sexual contact
Sexual coercion that brings harm or affects conditions of employment Termination, failure to hire, failure to promote or grant work-related privileges or assigning an unfair workload or deadline when an employee/ applicant rebuffs sexual advances

Promise of a work-related benefit in return for sexual favors

TYPE TWO
(Hostile Environment) Behaviors that may contribute to a hostile environment
A. Physical Behaviors Grabbing, squeezing or pinching
Touching the person's clothing, hair, or body
Hugging, kissing, patting on the head or stroking
A hand on the shoulder or arm when talking or giving instructions
Giving a neck or shoulder massage
Hanging around a person
Standing close or brushing up against a person
Following a person
Blocking a person's path
B. Verbal Behaviors Whistling at someone, cat calls
Making comments of a sexual nature
Turning work discussions to sexual topics
Asking about sexual fantasies, preferences or history
Asking personal questions about social/sexual life
Making sexual comments about a person's clothing, anatomy, or looks
Repeatedly asking out a person who is not interested
Making kissing sounds, howling, smacking lips
Telling lies or spreading rumors about a person's persona sex life
Making sexual comments or innuendos
Telling sexual or off-color jokes or stories
Concentrating on a person's appearance, rather than accomplishments
C. Non-Verbal Behaviors Eyeing a person up and down
Staring at someone
Giving personal gifts
Making facial expressions such as winking, throwing kisses or licking lips
Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements
Posting pictures of scantily clad women or men on office walls
Cartoons on bulletin boards of at a person's workstation that are sexually offensive
Obscene gestures
Displaying sexually suggestive visuals
Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person

Is Your Behavior Potentially Welcome or Unwelcome

Five questions to ask yourself:

  1. Would you want your behavior reported in the newspaper or on the evening news?

  2. Is there equal power in the interaction/relationship?

  3. Is there equal initiation and participation between you and the person with whom you are interacting?

  4. Would you exhibit this behavior if your spouse or someone you are in a relationship with were standing beside you?

  5. Would you want someone to act the same way toward your spouse or someone you are in a relationship with?

Note: Answering "no" to any of these questions is a warning sign to you that your behavior may be unwelcome and therefore sexual harassment.

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