NCJ Number
128588
Date Published
1991
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The chapter on sexual harassment defines the term, presents the laws relating to sexual harassment, and discusses the environmental factors contributing to sexual harassment. The types of research and the findings of the research done in both the academic realm and the workplace are also discussed.
Abstract
The discussion of the definitions of sexual harassment reveals that the definitions used in academia and the workplace usually view harassment from the perception of the victim. Legal definitions also require that the sexual conduct be unwelcome, not consensual, nor encouraged by the victim. All definitions also require that the victim incur some type of harm. The legal remedies for sexual harassment exist under both Title VII and Title IX, yet most victims ignore them or use informal means to deal with the situation. The crucial environmental factor contributing to sexual harassment is the concept of power of all types, not just formal or positional power. The experiments and research into definitions of harassment show that different types and sources of power need to be distinguished, and the role of these different types in the process of sexual harassment must be investigated. 21 notes, 21 cases cited, and 3 statutes cited