This form of sexual harassment may be based on gender or sexual orientation. This creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or learning environment. Although women are most often sexually harassed by men, the reverse can occur. Same-sex harassment also occurs. Students, staff and faculty can be either the victims or the perpetrators of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment can also occur between two students.
A fellow student or professor hugs, pats or otherwise touches you in a way that upsets you or makes you feel uncomfortable. As a result, you may think about dropping that course. Your thesis supervisor promises you a reference for a scholarship in return for sexual favours or implies that your academic career will suffer if you refuse. A group of students come to talk to you about their teaching assistant who persistently uses sexually oriented language in class discussions. These students find this offensive, demeaning and inappropriate in a learning environment.