It is not easy to cope with the anger, fear, and anxiety one feels while being the silent victim of sexual harassment at your workplace. With confusing advice given by family, friends, and colleagues, it can be difficult to know how to deal with the abuse.
According to the law, sexual harassment is any “unwelcome verbal, visual, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature or based on someone’s sex that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions or creates a hostile work environment”. Verbal sexual harassment can include one or more of the following:
- Comments on clothing, body, skin color, behavior, or relationships
- Jokes and innuendos that are sex-based
- Asking for sexual favors and dates
- Spreading false rumors about the sexual life of a person
- Issuing threats for rejecting sexual advances
Physical harassment can include:
- Blocking movement
- Stroking, kissing, hugging, touching, or patting
- Touching inappropriately
- Assault
Nonverbal harassment can include staring at a person, following, obscene gesturing, or making derogatory facial expressions that are sexual in nature. Visual forms of sexual harassment can include showing images, pictures, videos, drawings, or emails that are obscene or sexual in nature.






