Forms Of Sexual Harassment
The most common types of inappropriate behavior that can lead to "hostile environment" sexual harassment include unwanted comments, jokes, and gestures, and lewd looks. However, this type of harassment can come in many forms.
Verbal
Sexual harassment that is verbal may consist of sexual comments about someone’s appearance, sex-based jokes or slurs, gender-specific put-downs, or other threatening or intimidating language. Here are some examples of what verbal sexual harassment might look or sound like. Keep in mind that these kinds of comments can occur in person or via social media:
- Sexual rumors about a person
- Sexual innuendos and other comments about a person’s clothing, body, or sexual activities
- Offensive and/or persistent vulgar jokes about sex or gender-specific traits
- Suggestive sounds directed at someone (whistling, kissing)
- Sexual comments about someone’s weight, body shape, size, or figure
- Repeated, unwanted propositions for dates and/or sexual activity
- Questions or suggestions about a person’s sexual fantasies, preferences, or history
Non-Verbal
Making an offensive gesture or posting a revealing or explicit photo of someone are examples of non-verbal forms of sexual harassment. Additional examples include:
- Sexual gestures and hand or sign language that denotes sexual activity
- Messages, emails, or posts to social media that contain unwelcome sexual content
- Indecent exposure
- Videoing or photographing sexual activity and/or a person’s intimate body parts without their consent
- Disseminating or posting images or videos that include sexual content without the depicted person's knowledge or permission (even if the person consented to the images being taken)
Physical
Sexual harassment that creates a hostile environment can also be physical, with unwanted sexual contact such as intentionally brushing up against someone or pressing into their body without their consent. These behaviors are not acceptable, no matter the environment. Make sure you have someone else's permission before engaging in any of the following:
- Suggestively touching a person’s back, legs, hair, or clothes
- Rubbing someone’s shoulders or feet
- Inappropriately hugging or kissing someone
- Pinching, grabbing, or patting a person’s intimate body parts