Sexual harassment at work
Learn the legal definition of sexual harassment and what you can do to protect yourself. Includes information on complaining through workplace procedure, to a government agency, or by filing lawsuit.
Contents
1. Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment anywhere – at work, at school, on the street – isn’t just about sex. It’s about the harasser being hostile toward the victim or misusing power over the victim because of the victim’s sex or gender. Sexual harassment can include abuses of power and coercion or intimidation. It can include unwanted attention or advances from a person who won’t listen to your boundaries or is trying to coerce you.
In Washington, “gender” includes one’s sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Sexual harassment often involves men harassing women, but people of all genders can experience sexual harassment.