Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a form of sexual abuse.
What is it?
- Any sexual advance that threatens a person’s job or well-being.
- An expression of power or authority that coerces a person into sexual relations.
- Unwanted sexual attention such as verbal abuse, unwelcome remarks, taunting about a person’s clothing, body or sexual activities, displaying of pornographic pictures, leering, making obscene gestures.
People who are harassing often pretend they are joking or teasing — that it wasn’t to be taken seriously. But if it makes the other person feel uncomfortable, degraded or humiliated, it is sexual harassment.
If you or someone you know is being sexually harassed, what can be done about it?
- Confront harasser
- Document incidents
- Talk with others that you trust
- Find out if anyone else is experiencing harassment
- Report to the police
- Make a complaint to the BC Human Rights Coalition
- Get legal counsel
- Talk to a rape crisis counsellor about feelings and options
Sexual harassment is against the law and should be reported.