Sexual Harassment
Lesson Purpose:
Define what sexual harassment is
Learn the difference between
sexual harassment and flirting
Learn what to do if someone is
sexually harassing you
Sexual Harassment Definition:
Any unwelcome sexual advances,
requests for sexual favors, and other
verbal or physical conduct of a sexual
nature
--Equal Employment Opportunity Council
School prepares you for the
workforce
If you sexually harass someone at your
work, you could be fired.
We need to learn about sexual
harassment now because this behavior
cannot be tolerated anywhere.
It is against the Law
Title IX of the 1972 Education
Amendments
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Indiana Law
Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese
St. Charles policy
The laws are concerned with the
IMPACT OF THE BEHAVIOR.
In other words, the law is concerned
with how the PERSON ON THE
RECEIVING END IS AFFECTED BY
THE BEHAVIOR, not with what the
other person means by the behavior.
To put it bluntly, even if you didn’t mean
it, if it feels like it to the person you do it
to, it is sexual harassment.
In the eye of the beholder
Questions:
So, if a girl says she is being sexually
harassed and the boy says he is only
joking around, what is it???
Can boys be sexually harassed by
girls??
If you feel sexually harassed by a
teacher, what should you do?
Verbal Harassment Examples:
Calling girls names like doll, babe, or honey
Whistling at someone, cat calls
Making suggestive sexual comments about a
person’s body, clothing or looks
Telling sexual jokes, stories or teasing
Asking sexual questions
Repeatedly asking out a person who is not interested
Making kissing sounds, howling, and smacking lips
Telling lies or spreading rumors about a person’s sex
life
Written comments, notes, or letters of a sexual nature
Non-verbal Examples of
Sexual Harassment
Looking a person up and down
Staring at someone
Blocking a person’s path
Following the person
Giving personal gifts
Displaying sexually suggestive visuals
Making facial expressions such as winking, throwing
kisses, or licking lips
Making sexual gestures with hands or through body
movements
Physical Examples of
Sexual Harassment
Inappropriate or unwanted touching, such as groping,
pinching, grabbing of body parts
Tearing or pulling at a person’s clothing, including
snapping bras, pulling down pants, or flipping skirts
Standing in someone’s way or standing too close in a
way that makes the person feel uncomfortable
Bumping into someone or brushing against the
person on purpose in a way that makes the person
uncomfortable.
Unwanted Patting, hugging or kissing
Sexual Harassment:
Is a legal problem
Concerns schools
Gets worse when it is ignored
Should be talked about to create a healthy
school environment
Can be embarrassing to talk about
Should never be tolerated
Sexual harassment vs. Flirting
Makes the receiver
feel:
• Bad
• Angry/Sad
• Demeaned
• Ugly
• powerless
Makes the receiver
feel:
• Good
• Happy
• Flattered
• Pretty/Attractive
• In control
Sexual Harassment vs. Flirting:
Results in:
• Negative self esteem
Is perceived as:
• One-sided
• Demeaning
• Invading
• degrading
Results in:
• Positive self esteem
Is perceived as:
• Reciprocal
• Flattering
• Open
• A compliment
Sexual Harassment vs. Flirting
Unwanted
Power motivated
Illegal
Wanted
Equally motivated
Legal
What to do:
Confront the harasser, let them know what
you don’t like and tell them to stop
If they don’t stop or you are uncomfortable
confronting:
Talk to your parents
Talk to a teacher, the counselor, the principal
Any adult you feel comfortable with
What will happen:
The person sexually harassing will be
disciplined strongly
School officials will follow up to make
sure it does not happen again
Your parents could choose to have the
harasser arrested
Sexual Harassment
It should never be tolerated!