Sexual Harassment Essay

Donna Garcia
9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Sexual Harassment Applying the concept of persistency is usually a positive thing whether it pertains to a job, academics, or simply to get one’s attention. Although, there are times when persistency can lead to forms of harassment, as your outcome is not something you wanted. Specifically, sexual harassment can cause many problems to both the victim and the harasser. Often times the victim feels bothered with the feeling of no escape. On the other hand, the harasser can feel betrayed through the outcome of rejection from the victim. This usually leads to more harassment, as this is not what the harasser wants. According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition of sexual harassment is the act of being bothered or harassed in a workplace or other professional or social setting, which involves unwanted sexual remarks. For most early sexual harassment incidents, it begins with discrimination of the body. In Van der Zande’s (2012) article on Stopping Sexual Harassment in Schools, she addressed that one of her ground rules at school is “that we treat each other with respect in order to make our time together emotionally safe.” She further explains her rule by telling the students not to do things that can bring attention to anyone in an uncomfortable way. She includes disrespectful behavior of making noises, staring at someone, or making a remark about someone’s looks. This type of sex discrimination usually acts as a gateway to more serious and uncomfortable sexual situations like abuse or rape. In a study, sexual harassment was mentioned as an unwelcomed behavior, which included kissing, touching, or flirting. Also mentioned, was non-physical harassment, which included rumors, graffiti, jokes, and taunting. (Van der Zande, 2012) Findings reported in the American Association of University Women found that such studies of sexual harassment involved being spied on while dressing or showering. Again, sex discrimination acting as a gateway, often leads to unwanted and inappropriate behaviors. The problem of sexual harassment can occur both in men and women. Ideally, it happens more to women and it is important to look at some causes and why they endure the vast majority of sexual harassment. The reason why women are more likely to be victims than men is because the lack power and are more insecure and vulnerable. They lack self-confidence and are usually submissive to things. An example of sexual harassment in women pertains to jobs, by offering sexual favors in order to keep from being fired, demoted, or being affected at work. The results of quantitative study show that women and men had higher levels of depressed mood because they experienced sexual harassment at work. (Houle 2012, pg.211) Some common negative effects of sexual harassment that can happen are depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, elevated blood pressure, sleep problems, neck pain, and suicide. Although both can happen to men and women, it is more common in women to experience these effects. In a recent study of 1,000 youths, sexually harassed people in their teens and early 20s may experience depression. (Rettner, 2011) Many of times, victims of sexual harassment suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and tend to avoid people or things that may bring back re-experiencing trauma. Health problems such as high blood pressure, sleep problems, and neck problems were also a problem for sexually harassed women. Lastly, a study in 1997 suggested that more than 1,000 Canadian students thought sexual harassment could lead to suicidal behaviors. In the same study, about 23 percent experienced at least one incident of unwanted sexual touching or remarks.
How common is the problem?
I believe the problem of sexual harassment is very common, especially in schools including college universities. During the years of elementary and junior high school we start to discriminate on how our bodies look. I think we do this

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