Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment has been a prevalent occurrence in workplaces across the country.

Although it is illegal it continues to happen in this politically correct era. Sexual harassment has many definitions and therefore some people find it difficult to define. Many case studies have been done on the subject of sexual harassment in the workplace. Although this type of harassment occurs to both sexes, statistics have shown that the majority of cases have struck the female gender. Sexual harassment should in no way shape or form be blamed on the woman in the cases where she herself is the victim.

Most people believe sexual harassment to be a phenomenon. A big question has been raised on whether or not a woman is to be at tault when accepting a position at a place of employment where mixed genders are to be employed as well. Sexual harassment today is seen as a social interaction. At one time only researchers and feminists were interested in the topic, but today thisillegal crime is an organizational issue. In the year 1980, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) established guidelines for the problem of sexual harassment. Since that time research on the matter of sexual harassment has increased steadily. Sexual harassment itself is an extremely broad word in the sense that people are not even sure how to define the term or where to determine that sexual harassment is considered to be taking place. It is evidenced that one persons perception is unlike any other person s perception. According to Paula M. Popovich, a journalist, sexual harassment is

subjective in nature. (Popovich) She also believes that there are three types of factors involved in sexual harassment. They are unwanted sexual attention, sexual coercion, and gender harassment. A better understanding may be made of the so called phenomenon of sexual harassment by

determining the rules that people go by, and what is inferred in behavior causality. Little is known Concerning the view that people consider as what iIS typical when examining incidents of sexual harassment. (Popovich)

Although many people believe that it is a women s fault for placing herself in a working environment where there are males as well, the fact is that sexual harassment is also highly likely to occur between the same gender. Therefore the expression, The woman is asking for it is not valid. sexXual

harassment s definition is a powerful issue. In case after case whether the woman chooses to be aphysician for example or one that works in a factory, sexual harassment is shown to have a similar experience to rape, abuse that is sexual, and violence that is domestic, in that the women are not

believed and they, as victims, are considered to be at fault. The view that a trial would put a woman on the defensive is immoral in judging that she is at fault because of the occupation that she has chosen. The assumption that a woman would ask to be treated in this manner is completely absurd.

Being aware of the problem as well as tryiıng to avoId it will not guarantee a woman complete safety in the work place or anywhere for that matter. The issue of sexual harassment is a complex one that requires a deep understanding. There has been no sign of sexual harassment decreasing; instead

there has been a barrage of instances of sexual harassment in the workplace even though most people are now more aware of the problem.

Even though there are laws against sexual harassment in the workplace, it perseveres as an issue that is morally degrading, hard to fight, and emotionally draining especially tor the worman involved.

Sexual harassment is a tragic crime that can occur to any gender by any gender at any place in time making it hard to avoid at all times. Therefore a woman should not be held accountable for being at fault if she has agreed to take a certain Working position at a place of employment in a high stress,

fast passed environment in which there may be presumably not highly educated males.