Severe or pervasive situations are considered conduct of the harasser must be either severe or pervasive to be sexual harassment. A single incident is probably not sexual harassment unless it is severe. For example; a single incident of rape or attempted rape would most likely be sexual harassment and be a violation of criminal laws. Severe is defined as harsh or strict, as in treatment. It can also be noted as rigidly accurate or demanding and intense.
(Facts About Sexual Harassment, 2002). Explanation of how sexual harassment differs from gender discrimination Sexual harassment is defined by law and includes requests for sexual favors, sexual advances or other sexual conduct when (a) submission is either explicitly or implicitly a condition affecting academic or employment decisions; or (b) the behavior is sufficiently severe or pervasive as to create an intimidating, hostile or repugnant environment; or (c) the behavior persists despite objection by the person to whom the conduct is directed. Gender discrimination is about the "glass ceiling," stereotypes, and expectations of what women can and should be doing versus what men can and should be doing. Men are assumed to be competent. Women have to prove their competence over and over again.
Signs can be; A heightened sense of fear and anxiety around a person. Low self esteem Possible STD infection Inappropriate sexual behavior to others An interest in sex that is not in line with the age of the person. Fear of being with a certain sex. Emotional/psychological Abuse Many forms of abuse are obviously cruel. Emotional abuse is more subtle.
This can include, rape, indecent exposure, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual photography, sexual harassment, sexual teaching or innuendos, or being subject to pornography or witnessing sexual acts. Signs and symptoms: loss of sleep, unexplained or unexpected change in behaviours, bruising, soreness around genitals, torn or blood stained underwear, not wanting to be touched, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy or a preoccupation with anything sexual. Emotional/Psychological abuse is a form of abuse which is characterised by a person subjecting another than may result in psychological trauma such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. This type of abuse is often associated with situations where there is a power imbalance such as abusive relationships, in the work place and bullying. Examples of this type of abuse are humiliation, threats, controlling, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bulling and isolation, Signs and symptoms: fear, depression, confusion, anxious to please, unexplained or unexpected change in behaviour, loss of skills or abilities, Financial abuse is the misuse of a person’s funds or assets without their knowledge, full consent or in their best interest.
Types of sexual abuse are rape, sexual assault, touching and fondling, offensive or inappropriate language or involving an individual in the making and/or showing of pornography. • Emotional/psychological abuse. This is behaviour that has a harmful effect on the person’s emotional health and development or any form of mental cruelty. Some participating factors of emotional/psychological abuse maybe threats of harm or abandonment, being deprived of social or any other sort of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, verbal abuse, bullying or behaviour that undermines the adults self-esteem and results in them being less able to protect themselves. • Financial abuse.
Blyth 1980 studied 13 year old children both in junior high and elementary schools. They found more children had been victims of bullying in junior high schools suggesting that their penis positions within the schools affected their experiences. This shows how deindividuation can occur in schools, with mass numbers of people, it gives the bullies the chance to carry out the bullying but not be identified and punished for their actions. However, the use of questionnaires may allow social desirability that may cause falsified results. Within institutions of health, deindividuation is possible as all persons are equal.
Discussion Questions 1. Define sexual harassment, including the two main types. Identify at least two ways that employers can eliminate or minimize sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can be defined as, unlawful employment discrimination or unwelcome behavior. Examples of this sort of behavior may include: actual or attempted rape, sexual assault, unwanted deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, or pinching, unwanted sexual looks or gestures, unwanted sexual teasing, jokes, remarks, or questions, whistling, cat calls, etc.
For example, and unwelcome touch or patting. Things such as pinching, bumping, or grabbing are also included. You should also be aware of grabbing, or blocking a passageway if it is unwanted by a United States Army soldier, civilian employee, or a family member. Kissing and providing unsolicited back or neck rubs can be found offensive and considered to be a form of physical sexual harassment. Sexual assault and or rape are extreme forms of physical sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment violates Title VII of the Civil Act of 1964 which is baseline for this unacceptable behavior and in some states, laws against it may be more strict (Facts about Sexual Harassment). “Sexual harassment is discrimination based on a person’s sex and is prohibited by law” (Know Your Rights at Work: Workplace Sexual
Despite what the myth of stranger rape dictates, initiators of sexual assault are often personally connected to victims. Many myths specifically surround male-perpetrated sexual assault against women. Such statements include that women often lie about sexual assault and that women's choices of clothing, ways of walking, and habitats are reasons for their assault. There are also several myths about males' experiences of female committed sexual assault. It is often assumed that the offenders of sexual aggression against males are male, which is not always the case.