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Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace for Illinois Professionals, 2nd edition: Summary
| SCENARIO 1 Marilyn attends her organization’s annual employee appreciation picnic, held at an exclusive country club, thanks to the administrative team’s membership. Marilyn is in a two-piece bathing suit preparing to enter the club’s swimming pool when a male coworker calls out to her, “Hey Marilyn, looking good! Too bad you can’t wear bathing suits to work.” Is this sexual harassment? Commentary : The answer is no. The legislation does not prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious. However, if Marilyn’s colleague makes comments that are frequent or so severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted), it would be sexual harassment. One offhand comment is not generally considered sexual harassment. | SCENARIO 2 Jason is a staff social worker who has applied for a promotion to the position of behavioral health manager for his clinic. Danielle, the director of counseling services for the company, is interviewing Jason as part of the application process. Jason is uncomfortable around Danielle, as she often finds excuses to talk to him alone and generally includes multiple sexual innuendos throughout the conversation. During the interview process, Danielle mentions how lonely she has been since her divorce and asks about the state of Jason’s marriage. She says, “If you are ever looking for a little action on the side, I’m your woman. In fact, I would give you the promotion in a heartbeat if we can have a more ‘beneficial’ relationship.” Is this sexual harassment? Commentary : The answer is yes. The director of counseling services has displayed a pattern of behavior that constitutes sexual harassment. Additionally, she is making Jason’s promotion contingent on sexual favors. The elements that make this situation sexual harassment are that the comments are about the employee’s intimate personal situation, including an offer of action (clearly intimating sexual contact) and an offer of employment advancement with an “if” of engaging in sexual actions. This offer is coercion, and Danielle’s repeated sexual innuendo encounters create a hostile work environment. Brief History of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Movement
Although Farley’s book is no longer in print, it is as relevant today as it was then, if not more so. Issues of unequal pay, lack of promotional opportunities, unjust firing, and gender segregation in the workplace continue.
Some people may believe that the issue of sexual harassment has only recently been openly discussed. However, in 1978, Lin Farley wrote a mass-market paperback called Sexual Shakedown. Coining the term “sexual harassment,” Farley described “women’s pervasive experiences of sexual intimidation and outright abuse on the job”. Farley insisted that society understand the systemic role verbal and physical sexual assault has played in the workforce.
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