Definition of Harassment

Definition of Harassment

Society faces various types of harassment; harassments that are likely to occur on campus are sexual harassment, academic harassment and power harassment. The definitions and case examples of the three types of harassment are given below.

Definition of Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment refers to any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature and physical behavior or verbal expressions arising from a sexually discriminative disposition, which falls in one of the following categories. In determining whether a particular act constitutes sexual harassment, consideration will be given to the impression of the offended person, whether he/she finds it disagreeable or not.

Reciprocal sexual harassment

This refers to verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature committed by a person in a position of authority in relationships related to education, research, work, or student life where the victim may benefit if he/she accedes or may be harmed if he/she does not accede. For example, this could occur in situations related to evaluating academic research, determining course grades, giving course credits, or making personnel decisions related to status and promotion.
Academic Harassment is based on sexual discrimination and might be committed by persons abusing their authority and position at universities and higher educational institutions. The Guidelines will likewise be applied to such harassment.

Environmental sexual harassment

This refers to verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that causes a feeling of discomfort and creates a hostile or offensive educational or working environment, such as persistent acts of unwelcome physical contact, sexual advances, sexual remarks about a person’s body, staring at a person’s body and conversation of a sexual nature. Verbal or physical conduct based on disdain or discrimination against the opposite sex, such as demanding tea to be served or the room to be cleaned by a person simply because she is a woman, is also considered to be sexual harassment.

Definition of Academic Harassment

Academic Harassment is based on discrimination and might be committed by persons abusing their authority and position at universities and higher educational institutions. The Guidelines will likewise be applied to such harassment.

Definition of Power Harassment

Power harassment is committed by faculty or staff members abusing their power against other members through inappropriate behavior at work.

Definition of Harassment related to pregnancy, childbirth, and child/family care leave

Inappropriate treatment by a faculty or staff member regarding: i) the pregnancy or childbirth of another female colleague and the use of relevant employee benefits; or ii) the use of child/family care leave and related benefits by another colleague (excluding measures taken out of safety considerations).

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