What for you is "sexual harrassment"? Does it only pertain to physical actions or does it include verbal insinuations of one's sexuality as well?

Sexual harassment according to Boland 2002 is a unwelcome attention of a sexual nature and is a form of illegal and social harassment. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and annoyances to actual sexual abuse or sexual assault.

Definitely sexual harassment is not only pertain to physical actions but it also include verbal insinuation of one's sexuality as well. Anyone can become the harasser in anyways if they want to. Like stalking someone can be a form of sexual harassment. Words can be harmful to anyone especially when it is used to degrade someone and invade his or her privacy in anyways. Verbal abuse is a pattern of behavior that can seriously interfere with one’s positive emotional development and over time, can lead to significant detriment to one’s self-esteem, emotional well-being and physical state. Almost everyday one can encounter a sexual abuse to anyone whether it is a verbal or physical.

Verbal harassment may include, but is not limited to, the following:

Sexual innuendoes, comments and sexual remarks about clothing, body, or sexual activities
Repeated sexually oriented kidding, teasing, joking or flirting
Verbal abuse of a sexual nature
Derogatory or demeaning comments about women or men in general, whether sexual or not
Suggestive or insulting sounds
Offensive crude language
Sexual propositions, invitations, or other pressure for sex
Whistling in a suggestive manner


Honestly, I became a sexual harasser in some ways. I usually comments and talks about others not thinking of waht they feel and tease and joke someone in a sexual nature.

-Ralph Reyes BSN 3-B

I agree with you Mr. Reyes. However, I would like to add something about this issue. In my opinion, sexual harrassment includes anything that a person do to someone sexually which the latter is hesitant or have a strong objection of. It may be in verbal or in action.

What for you is "sexual harassment"? Does it only pertain to physical actions or does it include verbal insinuations of one's sexuality as well?

Accroding to:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-sexual-harassment.htm

Sexual Harassment is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. That conduct can be physical or verbal. It can take place in any setting — the workplace, school, or elsewhere. The harasser can be of either gender as can be the victim. Furthermore, the harasser and victim do not have to be of the opposite sex in relation to each other.

In the US, sexual harassment in the workplace, or any public accommodation, violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because it is a form of sex discrimination.

The definition of sexual harassment has greatly expanded overtime. It includes what might be considered minor, though still offensive, forms of behavior directed at others, or even behaviors without specific direction. Further, harassment doesn’t always take place in a working relationship. It can also occur within the teacher-student relationship, which is often called the forgotten secret at the college level. Sexual harassment may include the following:
•Unwelcome comments about a person’s physical characteristics, or sexual behavior.
•Inappropriate sexually charged language when talking to co-workers, other students, or employees (such as telling an obscene joke).
•Discussing or speculating on the sexual orientation of another person or asking that person directly about their sexual habits, behavior or orientation.
•Unwelcome solicitations for dates or intercourse.
•Any form of physical contact that makes another person uncomfortable.
•Displaying materials of a sexual nature, such as inappropriate pictures, pornography, etc.
•Punitive behaviors designed to punish a worker who finds any approach of a sexual nature unwelcome.

The defining characteristic of sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual conduct. The recipient isn't the only one that can find the conduct unwelcome. Viewing or hearing the inappropriate conduct even though it was not directed at you could constitute sexual harassment.

Sexual Harassment Comes in Many Forms
it can be Verbal, Nonverbal and Physical

VERBAL
-Whistling or making cat calls at someone
-Making sexual comments about a person's clothing or body
-Telling sexual jokes or stories
-Asking personal questions about sexual life, fantasies, preferences or history
-Repeatedly "asking out" a person who is not interested
-Turning work discussions to sexual topics
-Referring to an adult woman or man as a hunk, doll, babe or honey
-Telling lies or spreading rumors about a person's personal sex life

NON-VERBAL
-Paying unwanted attention to someone (i.e., staring, following, blocking a person's path)
-Displaying sexually suggestive visuals
-Making facial expressions such as winking, throwing kisses, or licking
-Giving personal gifts or a sexual nature
-Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements

PHYSICAL
-Hanging around, standing close, or brushing up against a person
-Touching a person's clothing, hair, or body (to include giving a massage around the neck and shoulders)
-Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person
-Hugging, kissing, patting or stroking
http://www.usu.edu/aaeo/sexualharass.html#Definition


In my opinion, we all became sexual harasser in some ways, i know even I become a sexual harasser. But not in physical way but may be in verbal. I sometimes comment to people, nothing looking at what they feel. We can change this. If we believe in our self.

I agree that sexual harassment is any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. It could be physical, verbal or nonverbal act. In a very simple way, we may not know that we sexually harassed someone or we were sexually harassed by anyone.