Discrimination on grounds of sex includes prejudicial treatment based not only on outright sexual acts of the victim, but a combination of reasons or circumstances that have a direct and unequivocal connection with the sex of the person. Being sexually harassed is never a fun thing to go through. And keep in mind that men or women can be harassed; it’s not a one-sided issue. Sexual harassment is any behavior, verbal or physical, of a sexual nature that has the purpose of violating the dignity of a person, especially when an intimidating, degrading or offensive environment is created.
There are plenty of things that constitutes Sexual Harassment:
1. Any unfavorable treatment of women on grounds of pregnancy or maternity.
2. Any dealings or negative effect arising from the exercise of judicial and extra judicial actions to enforce the principle of equal treatment between men and women.
3. Conditional expectation of a right or rights to the acceptance of a situation constituting sexual harassment.
Keys to sexual harassment
This is a behavior of a sexual nature that is unwanted, unwelcome and unsolicited. Sexual harassment is a demonstration of power aimed intimacy, coerciveness or acts of humiliating another. Examples of sexual harassment are:
Physical
1. Groping, pinching, patting, squeezing or deliberate friction.
2. Lewd or lascivious looks.
3. Homophobic comments, gestures with a sexual connotation, winks.
4. Sending unwanted e-mails and messages or sexually explicit jokes.
5. Touching or unnecessary physical contact.
6. Physical aggression.
Verbal
1. Making sexual comments or advances.
2. Telling jokes of a sexual nature or inquiring about erotic fantasies.
3. Homophobic remarks and insults based on the sex of another person.
4. Having conversations about sex.
5. Requests for sexual favors often linking to a promotion.
Non-verbal
1. Showing photos, calendars, wallpapers on PC, or other sexually explicit material.
2. Sending anonymous letters.
3. Whistles.
Other
1. Forcing women and men to work outside normal hours, which could expose them to certain dangers during their commute.
2. Try or compel the worker to perform certain work in the office.
Sexual harassment can be inflicted by colleagues, supervisors, members of management or customers. It generally takes the form of suggestive remarks, requests for sexual favors or compromising invitations. For more information, contact The Law Offices of Filteau & Sullivan.
