If you become aware, by any means, of sexually harassing behaviors within UW-Parkside, you need to immediately report it to The Office of Human Resources.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment at work occurs whenever unwelcome conduct on the basis of gender affects a person's job. It is defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
- submission to the conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment, or
- submission to or rejection of the conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or
- the conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.
Preventing Sexual Harassment at UW-Parkside
All employees can help create a healthy campus climate. In part, this means an environment free of illegal harassment, including sexual harassment.
- physical contact that includes touching, pinching, patting, kissing, rubbing up against, fondling, groping, grabbing or assault
- interfering with or blocking movement
- verbal sexual advances or propositions
- suggestive or obscene letters, notes, invitations or email received at work or at home - this could include "sexting"
- repeated face-to-face, telephone or email invitations after being refused
- making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs and jokes
- leering, making sexual gestures, displaying sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons or posters
- verbal abuse of a sexual nature, including graphic comments about an individual's body, sexually degrading words to describe an individual
- unwanted sexual advances or attention
- obscene or suggestive sounds
- obscene or suggestive gifts
- frequent discussion of sexual acts and exploits
- unfulfilled threats to impose a sexual quid pro quo
- discussing sexual activities
- commenting on physical attributes
- using demeaning or inappropriate terms, such as "Babe"
- sabotaging the victim's work
- granting job favors to those who participate in consensual sexual activity
Myths about sexual harassment
Myth: Sexual harassment is harmless fun. People who object to it have no sense of humor.
Fact: Harassment is degrading and humiliating. It can hurt schoolwork and professional careers. No one should have to endure harassment.
Myth: All the victim has to say is "no" and the harasser will stop immediately.
Fact: Many harassers will not stop, because they think "no" really means "yes."
Myth: Sexual harassment is not a serious problem, as it affects only a few women.
Fact: Redbook Magazine conducted a national survey to which 9,000 women replied. Nine out of ten women reported that they had experienced one or more forms of unwanted attention on the job.
Myth: Sexual harassment is purely a woman's issue.
Fact: Men also can be sexually harassed. A man is less likely to report incidents of harassment because he thinks no one will believe him. In 2007, 16% of complaints filed with the EEOC were filed by men.
Myth: Sexual harassment doesn't happen in same sex relationships.
Fact: Harassment does occur in same sex relationships, and the issues of power and control are similar to those found in heterosexual relationships. The victims can be faced with additional barriers when seeking help and support.
Myth: Discrimination and harassment are within the protections of academic freedom or free speech.
Fact: Discrimination and harassment are NOT within the protections of academic freedom or free speech:
"I didn't mean anything by it…" is not a defense.
"It was just a joke…" is not a defense.
"You should be flattered…" is not a defense.
National Hotlines & Resources
9 to 5: National Association of Working Women
1-800-522-0925
http://www.9to5.org/
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
1-800-669-4000
http://www.eeoc.gov/
National Center for Victims of Crime
1-800-FYI-CALL
(202) 467-8700
http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/Main.aspx
RAINN: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
1-800-656-HOPE
http://www.rainn.org/get-help
Sexual Assault Reporting
According to Wisconsin State Statues 36.11(22) any person employed at an institution who witnesses a sexual assault on campus or receives a report from a student enrolled in the institution that the student has been sexually assaulted shall report to the Dean of Student of the institution. The Dean of Students shall compile reports for the purposes of disseminating statistical information.
