Introduction Sexual harassment in the workplace is by no means a new phenomenon. It has existed for as longs as there has existed co-workers. However, workplaces have become more diversified over the years prompting women to rise into positions of power. Owing to these changes, sexual harassment has not only become unacceptable but also illegal in most jurisdictions. In the modern work place, sexual harassment is an increasing problem that many employees know it exists, but do not know how to deal with. The term “Sexual Harassment” became more popularized around the year 1975. This was as a result of writers and activists began addressing the issue. A pertinent question however is whether the question has really been solved. This paper will address some of the issues that are to do with sexual harassment.
Types Sexual Harassment Generally, the instances of sexual harassment fall in two classes namely quid pro quo and “hostile environment”. In the quid pro quo type of sexual harassment, the harasser implicitly or explicitly makes success in the workplace, class assignment or any other situation to be based on the victim submitting to the sexual demands that are unwelcome from the harasser. Examples of harassers in this type include a supervisor who promises job promotion in exchange for sex or a manager who punishes an employee who refuses his sex advances. In the “hostile environment” class of harassment, the sexual conduct of the harasser; be it verbal or physical; puts the victim in a position that any reasonable person would find intimidating, offensive, humiliating or abusive. An example of a scenario that would qualify to be in the “hostile environment” is a co-worker who frequently makes sexual advances that are unwelcome (Sexual Harassment, 2014). According to Liuzzo, sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual attention, be it verbal or physical that