Activity for ENGL 2043 (Sexual Harassment )

Sexual Harassment In today’s sexual sensitive workplace, both men and women are becoming more aware of their words and actions.  Women are learning that “innocent” moves like brushing back hair or “nervous” moves, like crossing and uncrossing legs, can be misinterpreted as provocative. One body language expert says that a lot of good-hearted men are realizing that their old behavior isn’t appropriate anymore.  Pats, hugs, and neck rubs are out.  Similarly, a man shouldn’t shake a woman’s hand for more than a few seconds.  In fact, any touching by men or women should be light, brief, and in a neutral zone: the elbow or shoulder.  Touching superiors of either sex is always taboo. Men and women are becoming more sensitive because of litigation surrounding sexual harassment.  Just what is sexual harassment? According to the law, sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests of sexual favors, and other verbal or nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when Submission of such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting that person or third parties. Such conduct has the purpose of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment. In a broader sense, according to communication experts, sexual harassment is anything that a victim believes is a sexual harassment.  The most notable case of alleged sexual harassment came in the US Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Attorney and Law professor Anita Hill, a former colleague of Judge Thomas, testified that Thomas’s sexual jokes and discussions of pornographic films at the office constituted sexual harassment. It’s wise to remember that men and women perceive behavior differently. A man may think a touch on the hand is innocent, but a woman may view it as a prelude to a sexual advance. Suppose a professor says to Lisa, his student, “That dress looks great on your body.”  Although the professor meant to compliment Lisa’s fitness and her taste in clothes, Lisa considers it asexual comment and complains to her dean.  Using the guidelines presented here, should the dean consider this incident as sexual harassment?  What lessons can be learned from this incident? Discuss your response in a report to your instructor or in small groups(Guffey,1998).