2.1 Defining sexual harassment
Section 10 of the
Code defines harassment as “engaging in a course of vexatious
[8] comment or conduct that is known or ought to be known to be unwelcome.”
The following list is not exhaustive, but it should help to identify what may be sexual and gender-based harassment:
- demanding hugs[18]
- invading personal space[19]
- unnecessary physical contact,[20]including unwanted touching,[21] etc.
- derogatory language and/or comments toward women[22] (or men, depending on the circumstances), sex-specific derogatory names[23]
- leering[24] or inappropriate staring
- gender-related comment about a person’s physical characteristics or mannerisms[25]
- comments or conduct relating to a person’s perceived non-conformity with a sex-role stereotype[26]
- displaying or circulating pornography,[27] sexual pictures or cartoons,[28] sexually explicit graffiti,[29]or other sexual images (including online)
- sexual jokes, including circulating written sexual jokes (e.g. by e-mail)[30]
- rough and vulgar humour or language related to gender
- sexual or gender-related comment or conduct used to bully a person
- spreading sexual rumours (including online)[31]
- suggestive or offensive remarks or innuendo about members of a specific gender
- propositions of physical intimacy
- gender-related verbal abuse, threats, or taunting
- bragging about sexual prowess
- demanding dates or sexual favours
- questions or discussions about sexual activities
- requiring an employee to dress in a sexualized or gender-specific way[32]
- paternalistic behaviour based on gender which a person feels undermines their status or position of responsibility
- threats to penalize or otherwise punish a person who refuses to comply with sexual advances (known as reprisal).
Much of what we do and say here would be considered sexual harassment and demeaning to women. We all just don't condemn it with one hand while doing it with the other.