What is
Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is
one form of sex discrimination. Sexual harassment is
unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and
other verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature
that is pervasive where:
·
Submission
to the conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly
a term or condition of employment, academic status, or
progress.
·
Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct is used as
the basis for employment or academic decisions.
·
Conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative
impact upon work or academic performance, or creating
an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or
educational environment. |
It is important to
understand that any type of sexual harassment can be blatant
or it can be very subtle. It can take the form of one
serious incident or more subtle acts that continue over
time. The latter is more common. Sexual harassment can be
intentional or unintentional.
What type of
behavior is sexual harassment?
It is
important to be aware that sexual remarks or physical
conduct of a sexual nature may be offensive or can make some
people uncomfortable even if you wouldn’t feel the same way
yourself.
It is
therefore sometimes difficult to know what type of behavior
is sexual harassment.
However
the defining characteristic of sexual
harassment is that it is unwanted and pervasive. It’s
important to clearly let an offender know that certain
actions are unwelcome.
The four
most common types of sexual harassment are:
1. Sexual Harassment based on your gender:
This is generalized sexist statements, actions and
behavior that convey insulting, intrusive or degrading
attitudes/comments about women or men. Examples
include insulting remarks; intrusive comments about
physical appearance; offensive written material
such as graffiti, calendars, cartoons, emails; obscene
gestures or sounds; sexual slurs, obscene jokes, humor
about sex.
2. Sexual Harassment where the behavior is seductive:
This is unwanted, inappropriate, pervasive, and
offensive sexual advances. Examples include repeated
unwanted sexual invitations and flirtations, insistent
requests for dinner, drinks or dates, persistent
letters, phone calls, emails and other invitations.
3. Sexual Harassment based on
aggression: This is gross sexual aggravation. Examples
include forceful touching, feeling, grabbing, blocking of
physical movement or sexual assault.
4. Sexual Harassment based on
bribery: This is a request for sex or other sex-related
behavior with either the promise of a reward or the
withholding of a reward, where the attempt may be either
overt or subtle. Example: the offer of a good grade for sex,
or the withholding of a good grade following rejection of
sexual harassment.
|
Your rights
at Los Angeles City College |
|
| You have a right: |
|
·
To work and study in an atmosphere free of harassment
and discrimination.
·
To be judged by the
same criteria as all others, not by standards that are
less demanding, or more rigorous, or different in any
way.
·
To complain, free of
retaliation.
·
To be treated fairly
and without prejudice whether you are making a
complaint, are witnessed to a complaint, or are
charged with a complaint. |
|
|
|
If you believe you have
been sexually harassed you need to do something about it.
Doing something about
sexual harassment means that you may solve the problem. This
will makes things better for you and also for other people
in the future.
Doing nothing means
that the situation will stay the same or get worse.
Any individual who
believes that his or her employment and/or educational
environment have been violated through acts of sexual
harassment may file a charge.
|
Simple
guidelines for avoiding sexual harassment
We all want to work and
study in an environment that is pleasant and happy where we
can enjoy working with our colleagues, furthering our
education and meeting new friends.
| If you follow these
simple guidelines it will help you avoid creating a hostile
environment and making someone else feel uncomfortable: |
|
·
If
unsure if certain comments or behavior are offensive,
do not do it, do not say it.
·
Do not repeat
behavior if you have been told that it is not wanted.
If you are in doubt, stop the behavior.
·
If something you do
or say is being perceived as offensive or unwelcome.
If the answer is yes, stop the behavior.
·
Do not interpret
someone's silence as consent. Look for other nonverbal
signals, such as avoidance of eye contact or folded
arms when she/he is around you.
·
Do not retaliate if
someone accuses you of sexual harassment. Retaliation
is against the law and is considered an additional or
separate offense. |
|
Who can be a
victim of sexual harassment?
The victim may be a
woman or a man. The victim does not have to be of the
opposite sex of the harasser. The victim does not have to be
the person directly harassed but could be anyone affected by
the offensive conduct.
Sexual harassment will
not go away by ignoring it.
Whether sexual
harassment comes from a person in authority or a peer, it is
not acceptable. Los Angeles City College regards any
behavior which is sexually harassing as a violation of the
standards of conduct required for everyone associated with
the college, whether faculty, staff or students.
8
Step guide to
stopping sexual harassment
If you
believe you have been sexually harassed you need to do
something about it. Follow this 8-step guide:
Step 1. Say No! Do
not put up with any behavior that offends you.
Step 2.
Ask the
person to stop.
Tell the
person that his or her behavior is making you uncomfortable.
Step 3. Write a
letter or email and ask them to stop.
Step 4.
Keep a
written record of what has happened to you. Remember to
include the name of the offender, what happened, where it
happened, and when it happened. If there were any witnesses
record their names.
Step 5.
Save any
written material, including pictures, notes, and emails that
are part of the harassment. You may be tempted to get rid of
it immediately, especially if it is offensive. However, your
feelings may change over time about whether or not you want
to file a complaint, and that physical evidence will be very
helpful in holding someone accountable.
Step 6.
Be informed.
Know your rights and responsibilities and read the Los Angeles Community College
District’s
Sexual Harassment policy.
Step 7.
Doing
something about sexual harassment means that you may solve
the problem. This will makes things better for you and also
for other people in the future. Doing nothing means that the
situation will stay the same or get worse.
Step 8.
If the offending
behavior continues or if you believe that you are being
sexually harassed and cannot confront the person, ask for
assistance.
Los
Angeles Community College
District
Sexual Harassment Policy
It is the policy of the LACCD to provide an educational, employment and business
environment free from unwelcome sexual advances, requests
for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or
communications constituting sexual harassment.
Employees, students, or
other persons acting on behalf of the LACCD who engage in
sexual harassment as defined in this policy or by state or
federal law shall be subject to discipline, up to and
including discharge, expulsion, or termination of contract.
Official LACCD Sexual Harassment Policy
Los
Angeles Community College
District
Sexual Harassment Policy Complaint Form
If you
believe you have been sexually harassed and would like to
file a complaint you can download a copy of the LACCD
complaint form and send it to the Compliance Officer at the
Compliance Office.
Official LACCD
Discrimination Complaint Form |
