Sexual harassment: what is it and how to deal with it?

Since the revelations of numerous sexual harassment claims made against Harvey Weinstein in September and the #metoo campaign which dominated social media men and women have bravely shared their experiences of sexual harassment, detailing how their lives have been affected as a result of unwanted attention and sexual advances.

According to recent statistics from the Metropolitan Police, 75-95% of sexual assaults or harassments are not reported to the police. There are numerous reasons why more people are not reporting incidents of sexual harassment such as fear of not being believed, threats of violence from the perpetrator, fear of losing job/home/partner/family and in some cases a lack of understanding of what is defined a sexual harassment. A common misconception around sexual harassment cases is that the perpetrator is usually depicted as male and the victim as female, however, this is far from the truth. A growing number of female perpetrators are displaying sexually inappropriate, threatening or aggressive behaviours towards male victims. Research suggests that male victims of sexual harassment are less likely to report due to fear of being mocked by others, societal views on men and victim’s accounts of harassment becoming twisted by the perpetrator.

Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favours and other behaviours with a sexual content and deemed to be of an offensive or aggressive nature. All too often the perpetrator refuses to accept responsibility for their behaviour by trying to pass off inappropriate actions or innuendo as banter however for the victim the offensive behaviour is taken much more serious and potentially viewed as predatory or sexually aggressive.

Being the target of sexual harassment can be a lonely and isolating experience for many people, it’s common to experience feelings of powerlessness, guilt, shame and embarrassment as you’re trying to figure out what you can do about it. This is where people can easily become silenced by putting up with the harassment and shutting up by not telling anyone what is really happening. It does not have to be this way and there are people who will listen, believe and help you to put an end to your sexual harassment.

Here is guidance on how to deal with sexual harassment.

Record each incident

Make a private note of each incident including details on what happened, where it happened, time, date, if there were any witnesses and how the incident made you feel. If the harassment is taking place over social media, text or email make sure you save ALL communication including your responses. This will serve as vital evidence if the case goes to court.

Confide in someone

As I said this can be a very isolating experience and you may think that no-one will believe your story, however, you do not know unless you open up by sharing your experience with another person. It can feel like a bit of a risk telling a colleague about your current experiences however if you feel comfortable to do so this is a way a gaining valuable support in the workplace and potential witnesses should you need them.

If you are unable to confide in a work colleague it’s wise to at least tell a close friend or family member, you will gain much-needed support during this time and an outsider’s perspective on the situation. You will have a source of moral support who can accompany you to meetings with your union, police, solicitor or within the workplace.

Tell management (if possible)

If you are being sexually harassed by a colleague one of your main points of contact should be your line manager who should able to adjust your work schedule accordingly should you request it, offer you support during work hours, remind you of relevant policies and procedures, explain how to make a complaint against your colleague and authorise sick leave should you request it.

If you are being sexually harassed by a senior staff member you may feel you’re unable to speak to your line manager about this issue. In this instance, it would be a good idea to contact your organisation’s HR department who will be able to signpost you onto the correct person.

Inform your union or ACAS

If you are a member of an employment union now it the time to use their services. After your initial enquiry, you may be asked to submit your account in writing or you may be invited to attend an appointment with your local union representative. Do not worry about using jargon or correct terminology when speaking to your local union representative just be yourself and describe the events honestly as they happened. If you have any evidence include a copy of that regardless of the medium.

If you are not a member of an employment union there is still help and support available to you. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) are here to provide support and advice on resolving workplace issues. ACAS also have online leaflets which can be downloaded for your own reference.