Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature when it meets any of the following:
- Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic status.
- Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting such individual.
- 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 environment for working, learning, or living on campus. Sexual harassment can occur between any individuals associated with the University, e.g., an employee and a supervisor; coworkers; faculty members; a faculty, staff member, or student and a customer, vendor, or contractor; students; or a student and a faculty member.
Signs that it could be sexual harassment:
- Sexual comments or inappropriate references to gender
- Sexually explicit statements, questions, jokes, or anecdotes regardless of the means of communication (oral, written, electronic, etc.)
- Unwanted touching, patting, hugging, brushing against a person’s body or staring
- Inquiries or commentaries about sexual activity, experience, or orientation
- Display of inappropriate or sexually oriented material in locations where others can view them
- Offers of or demands for sex for jobs, promotions, money or other opportunities or rewards
- Unwanted flirtation, advances or propositions
Effects of Sexual Harassment
Being sexually harassed can devastate your psychological health, physical well-being and vocational development.Survivors who have been harassed often change their jobs, career goals, job assignments, educational programs or academic majors. In addition, survivors have reported psychological and physical reactions to being harassed that are similar to reactions to other forms of stress. They may include:
Psychological Reactions
- Depression, anxiety, shock, denial
- Anger, fear, frustration, irritability
- Insecurity, embarrassment, feelings of betrayal
- Confusion, feelings of being powerless
- Shame, self-consciousness, low self-esteem
- Guilt, self-blame, isolation
Physiological Reactions
- Headaches
- Lethargy
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Dermatological reactions
- Weight fluctuations
- Sleep Disturbances, nightmares
- Phobias, panic reactions
- Sexual problems
Career-Related Effects
- Decreased job satisfaction
- Unfavorable performance evaluations
- Loss of job or promotion
- Drop in academic or work performance due to stress
- Absenteeism
- Withdrawal from work or school
- Change in career goals
Gender-Based Harrassment
Title IX also prohibits gender-based harassment, which may include acts of verbal, nonverbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature.
