Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual behavior that makes someone feel upset, scared, offended, humiliated, or intimidated. It includes a wide range of actions such as unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, and other behaviors that are offensive or degrading based on sex or gender
. Sexual harassment can be verbal, physical, or non-verbal and may involve:
- Sexual comments, jokes, or remarks about a person's body, clothing, or sexual orientation
- Unwelcome touching or physical contact
- Displaying or sharing sexually explicit images
- Sexual advances or pressure for sexual activity
- Gender-based insults or degrading actions that reinforce stereotypes
It can occur in various settings such as workplaces, schools, homes, or religious institutions and can be perpetrated by anyone, including supervisors, colleagues, teachers, or peers
. Legally, sexual harassment is considered illegal when it is unwelcome and creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive environment, or when it affects employment decisions like promotion or firing
. The key element is that the behavior is unwelcome, regardless of the harasser's intent
. In summary, sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual conduct that negatively impacts a person's dignity or creates an uncomfortable environment, often rooted in gender inequality
