Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and is illegal. The submission by an employee or student to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment or scholastic achievement. The submission to or rejection of such conduct by an employee or student is used as the basis for employment or scholastic decision affecting that individual. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or scholastic environment. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for employees and under the Education Amendments of 1972 for students.
Sexual harassment can take many forms.
It can be verbal, non-verbal, or physical and can range from an overt suggestion that a person could get a higher grade or a salary increase by submitting to sexual advances to an advance or suggestion implied from the conduct, circumstances and relationship of the individuals involved. Such conduct may create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or scholastic environment. Indeed, it may make it worse because the harasser may misinterpret no response as approval for the behavior. You do not have to endure abuse from other people. Know your rights.