Posh At Work: Types of Sexual Harassment ?

Different Types of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Verbal Sexual Harassment

Below are listed examples of unacceptable verbal behaviors that may constitute sexual harassment.

Sexual threats and abuses
Telephone calls with sexual overtones
Persisting and unwelcome flirting
Relentless proposal for physical intimacy beginning with subtle hints which may lead to overt requests for dates/sexual intercourse
Sexual propositioning
Lewd gossips and rumor creating hostile work environment at workplace
Continuous idle chatter of sexual nature and graphic sexual description
Derogatory/double meaning comments
Sexual innuendoes or taunting
Sexual Remarks
Inquiries or comments about an individual’s sex life, relationship with sexual partner, sexual practices etc.
Sharing Sexual jokes
Comments of sexual nature about looks, weight, body shape, size or figure, dress, appearance
Staged whispers or mimicking of sexual nature about the way a person walks, talks, sits etc
Repeated unwanted social invitation for drinks, dinner, movies

Non-verbal sexual harassment

Gestures and non-verbal behavior do not involve physical contact. Some gestures are intended only to get the attention of the victim, while others are intended to provoke a reaction from the receiver. Listed below are the examples of unacceptable gestures and non verbal behavior that may constitute sexual harassment.

Showing of pornographic or sexually explicit movies or slides
Sexual exposure of one’s body parts
Sending personal or inappropriate messages/videos/pictures over email, sms, or any forms of social media
Writing letters/notes/stickies etc. with sexual content or inappropriate messages at workplace
Indulging in sexual graffities on walls, restrooms, desks
Display of pornographic or other offensive, derogatory, sexually explicit pictures, photographs, magazines, cartoons, drawing, symbols and other materials .
Stalking – both physical stalking and digital stalking
Taking inappropriate videos/pics without consent
Sexual looks such as staring, leering, ogling with suggestive overtones
Sounds such as whistling, kissing sounds etc.
Lewd gestures such as hand or sign language to denote sexual activity

Physical Sexual Harassment

Attempted or actual kissing or fondling
Physical assaults
Coerced sexual intercourse
Any physical touch that is inappropriate such as patting, pinching, stroking or brushing up against the body
Hugging,
Cornering
Invading personal space
Attempted rape or rape, gangrape

Quid pro quo sexual harassment

When employment decisions are taken by people in authority or power based on acceptance or rejection of sexual favors is quid pro quo sexual harassment.

The key elements of quid pro quo sexual harassment are

1) demand for sexual favors (subtle/implied or explicit)

2) the threat of adverse job consequences if the demand is refused Some examples:

Promotion or Stall of promotion
Nominating for rewards and recognition or stalling of the same
Showering lots of gifts or punishing
Rise or reduction in rank/responsibilities/authority Offering or removal of employment benefits like onsite travel
Making the job easy or tough
Hiring or firing based on acceptance or rejection of demand for sexual favour (either subtle/implied or explicit)
Salary hikes or stall of hike