Show A Little Advice on Sexual Harassment I Weekly ti Whine L By f John Nielson 11 Editorial f if r c Editor 1 1 L i. i The college experience requires an open working environment free of r sexual harassment for students faculty faculty fac fac- staff and administrators Sexual harassment is prohibited as a form fonn of y i. i sex discrimination by federal and t state law as well as the policies and 7 procedures of Salt Lake Community College Everyone has heard of sexual sexual sex sex- 1 ual harassment but what is the meaning meaning meaning mean- mean ing of the phrase l The Equal Employment RR definition definition defini- defini i Opportunity Commissions Commission's v tion of sexual harassment is accepted as the standard in the work place It states that unwelcome sexual i advances and requests for sexual A sexual harassment harassment harass harass- favors are considered ment went Furthermore it includes things like any other verbal nonverbal nonverbal nonverbal non non- verbal or physical conduct of a sexual sexual sexual al nature in its definition T The EEOC's definition seems just and fair It is rightly the basis for many corporate and educational sexual sexual sexual sex- sex ual harassment policies This definition definition defini- defini tion also makes it possible to split sexual harassment into two general types Quid Pro Quo sexual harassment harassment harass harass- r ment and hostile environment sexual fix y j. j harassment Quid Pro Pm Quo sexual harassment r occurs when submission to or li tion Lion of unwelcome sexual conduct is used as the basis for academic or employment decisions affecting an individual A professor that offers a higher grade to a student only if they agree to the professors professor's requests for sexual favors is an example of this type of sexual harassment Hostile environment sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual conduct that is sufficiently severe that it alters the conditions of employment or edu education and creates an environment that a reasonable person person person per per- son would find intimidating hostile or offensive A faculty member that makes sexual remarks about a students student's students student's students student's stu stu- stu- stu dents dent's clothing or body that are so severe or pervasive that the educational educational educational environment becomes hostile is an example of this type of sexual harassment Of these two types of sexual harassment Quid Pro Quo is easier to spot than hostile environment Hostile environment sexual harassment harassment harassment harass harass- ment is more difficult to define because there are so many variables that come into play While there has been much in the way of education on sexual harassment harassment harassment harass harass- ment it is still difficult to decide what is and what is not sexual harass harass- ment The recent case of a young boy that was accused of sexual harassment for kissing a girl at school seems to be off base To me this was definitely not sexual harass harass- ment The children involved are much too young to realize what sexual sexual sexual sex sex- ual harassment is The only lesson the boy in this case will learn is that you cant can't go to ice cream parties with the rest of your class if you kiss a girl I heard an example in my argumentative argumentative argumentative writing class about an individual that was pulled aside by their manager at work because they they tapped a member of the opposite sex on the shoulder How can a simple simple simple sim sim- tap on the shoulder be considered intimidating hostile or offensive The only way to steer clear of any accusation of sexual harassment is to carefully evaluate every thought and action before it is carried out Relationships at work and at school can become close due to the daily interaction and discussion that takes place If H I dont don't know and trust someone well enough to positively know that they wont won't be offended by what I do or say I shouldn't say or do anything more than I would to a complete complete complete com com- stranger This seems extreme but it is the only way to ensure that I wont won't be accused of sexual harassment harassment harassment harass harass- ment by the individual or by a passerby passerby passerby pass pass- er-by er that may have witnessed what took place So if I dont don't know someone someone someone some some- one well enough to tap them on the shoulder I shouldn't do it This brings up a whole new item for discussion How do I decide if I know someone well enough for these types of social interaction Im I'm not positive there is any anyone one right answer but I hope someone finds it soon I know that if I l always treat the people around me with complete respect sexual harassment will never be a problem for me Use respect but dont forget your common sense |