Definition of

sexual harassment

Person being harassed in a subway station

Sexual harassment is a predatory behavior that affects men and women in various areas.

Sexual harassment is any inappropriate conduct or predatory behavior of a sexual nature that may include comments, advances, inappropriate touching, lewd looks, suggestive gestures, indecent proposals or anything else that makes the recipient uncomfortable or intimidating . This type of harassment can occur in different contexts, such as the workplace, educational environment, public or private spaces, and can be perpetrated by anyone, regardless of gender . Sexual harassment creates a hostile and offensive environment, which affects the victim's right to privacy.

Types of sexual harassment

Sexual harassment can manifest itself in different ways and in different contexts. Some of the most common types are described below.

Verbal sexual harassment

  • Inappropriate sexual comments, jokes or innuendos;
  • invasive questions about the other person's sex life;
  • offensive comments about appearance, body or clothing.

Non-verbal sexual harassment

  • Lewd gestures or looks;
  • display sexually explicit materials, such as photos or videos;
  • Send messages or emails with sexual content without consent .

physical sexual harassment

  • Unwanted touches, caresses or friction;
  • attempts to kiss or hug without consent;
  • any physical contact of a sexual nature without the person's consent.

Psychological or emotional sexual harassment

  • Psychological manipulation to obtain sexual favors;
  • create a hostile and intimidating work, study or living environment;
  • emotional manipulation to force someone to engage in sexual activities.

quid pro quo sexual harassment

  • Something is offered in exchange for sexual favors, such as a promotion, improved grades, or job benefits. This type of bullying often involves an abuse of power on the part of the bully;
  • exchange of benefits or the promise to avoid negative consequences.

Environmental or environmental sexual harassment

  • Creating an uncomfortable or intimidating work, educational or social environment through inappropriate sexual conduct ;
  • may include displaying sexually explicit materials, using vulgar language, and performing acts that make the environment hostile to the victim.

Digital sexual harassment

  • Sending sexually explicit messages, photos or videos without the person's consent, known as non-consensual sexting ;
  • use social networks, emails or other digital platforms to sexually harass someone, a practice known as cyberbullying ;
  • Online harassment can include grooming , where the perpetrator gains the trust of a victim , often a minor, to exploit them sexually;
  • spread rumors or personal information of a sexual nature online, violating the victim's confidentiality.

street harassment

  • Comments, gestures or actions of a sexual nature directed at people in public spaces without their consent;
  • whistling, sexual propositions and any other behavior that makes the person feel uncomfortable or intimidated .
Person covering their face and being pointed out.

Stigmatization and isolation are two consequences of sexual harassment.

Consequences of sexual harassment

Psychological consequences

Sexual harassment can cause a variety of psychological problems in victims , such as anxiety , depression , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), low self-esteem, and feelings of guilt or shame. These consequences can persist in the long term, affecting mental health.

Emotional aftermath

Victims of sexual harassment often experience significant emotional aftereffects, such as loss of confidence in themselves and others, constant fear , and stress. This can hinder interpersonal relationships and overall emotional well-being.

Impact on professional career

Sexual harassment can have a devastating impact on victims' careers. They may feel the need to change jobs, accept lower positions, or even abandon their career to avoid the hostile environment. This affects their professional development and promotion opportunities.

Social tagging

Victims of sexual harassment are often unfairly judged and held responsible for the incident. This can lead to social isolation and loss of support from colleagues and friends.

Stigmatization

It is a frequent consequence of sexual harassment, where victims can be seen as problematic or conflictive for having reported the aggressor . This stigma can perpetuate the cycle of abuse and discourage others from speaking out about their experiences.

Moral damage

Moral harm refers to the emotional anguish and suffering experienced by the victim due to sexual harassment. This harm can include feelings of humiliation, unworthiness, and loss of personal integrity, deeply affecting the person's emotional and psychological well-being.

Judge's hammer

Victims of sexual harassment are protected by international and national laws.

Over the years, various national and international legislations have been established to prevent, punish and eradicate sexual harassment, which is a form of gender violence and a violation of human rights.

Current legislation

Current legislation must be analyzed from two points of view: international and national . In the first we find the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment , for example, which address this type of violence at a global level.

National legislation presents a more varied, and sometimes contradictory, picture, since each country can interpret the same problem in different ways, and this is reflected in its own penal code .

Victims' rights

  • Right to a safe environment : Everyone has the right to an environment free of violence, and this includes a safe work environment. Organizations must take precautionary measures to ensure abuse is prevented and respond appropriately when it occurs;
  • right to confidentiality : complaints of sexual harassment must be handled confidentially to protect the privacy of victims and avoid retaliation;
  • right to protection and support :
    incluyendo asesoramiento legal y psicológico. También tienen derecho a medidas de protección contra el agresor;
  • right to justice : to have your complaints investigated impartially and exhaustively, and to have those responsible punished in accordance with the law;
  • right to reparation : where sexual harassment is proven, victims have the right to adequate reparation, which may include compensation for damages and measures to restore their dignity and reputation;
  • right to non-discrimination : this includes the right to non -revictimization as a result of your complaints, and protection against any form of retaliation in the workplace or social sphere.