What is sexual harassment?
Any behaviour with sexual connotations that is not wanted by the other person and which degrades them on the basis of their gender is considered to be sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment can take various forms, such as:
- Offensive and uncomfortable comments
- Sexist phrases and jokes
- Sharing, displaying or posting of sexist material
- Physical contact and intrusive behaviour, repeated unwanted invitations
- Advances accompanied by the promise of a reward or the threat of negative consequences
Flirting or sexual harassment? What’s the difference?
At first, it may seem difficult to draw a clear line between harmless flirting, a friendly interaction and sexual harassment. But there’s one simple rule: the decisive factor is not the intentions of the person doing the flirting, but rather how their behaviour is received by the other person – whether it encroaches on their personal boundaries in an undesirable way.
Flirting | Sexual harassment |
---|---|
is a mutual interaction | is a one-sided approach |
is uplifting, empowering | is degrading, offensive |
is wanted by both parties | is not wanted by the other person |
boosts self-esteem | undermines self-esteem |
makes people happy | triggers anger |
brightens the working day | creates a toxic working environment |
respects personal boundaries | violates personal boundaries |
Source: Sexual harassment in the workplace - A guide for employees