Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment
Items in this lesson
Sexual Harassment
Content warning
This lesson discusses sexual harassment, including unwanted comments, messages, and behaviour.
Some people may find this upsetting.
You can take a break, step outside, or choose not to answer any question.
What comes to mind when you hear the term sexual harassment?
Sexual Harassment
is defined as a unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment. It can be verbal, non-verbal, or physical, ranging from sexual jokes and emails to unwanted touching or assault.
It’s only harassment if it’s physical
True
False
Verbal Harassment
Things people say out loud:
Sexual jokes or comments
Commenting on someone’s body
Asking intrusive questions about someone’s sex life
Repeatedly asking someone out after they’ve said no
Catcalling / whistling
Visual Harassment
Things people do without speaking:
Staring at someone’s body in a sexual way
Making sexual gestures
Showing sexual images/videos to someone who didn’t ask
Following someone or standing too close in a suggestive way
Online / Digital Harassment
Very relevant for 16–18 year olds:
Sending unwanted sexual messages
Sending explicit photos/videos
Pressuring someone to send images
Sharing private images without consent
Sexual comments on posts
Psychological / Emotional Harassment
Less obvious, but still harmful:
Sexual rumours or gossip
Threatening to share images
Making someone feel guilty for saying no
Repeated teasing about sexuality or appearance
Persistent / Repeated Behaviour
Even if something seems “small,” it becomes harassment when it keeps happening after someone is uncomfortable or says no.
What we are about to see?
A specially written drama in three parts tells the story of a professional relationship between a man and woman at work, which involves an accusation of sexual harassment and an employment tribunal hearing.
