Sexual harassment is often painted as something that is done for sexual reasons alone. For example, a boss may ask a person who works below him or her for sexual favors in exchange for a promotion. There could also not be anything in it for the other party; the boss may just try to use his or her position of power to take what is wanted and force others to comply.
This is fairly straightforward sexual harassment, but it’s important to remember that not all harassment is going to look the same. It’s not even going to be centered on anything sexual in all cases. In some instances, it may be more about gender than anything else.
For example, a co-worker could make sexist remarks about men or women based only on their gender. These could be played off as jokes, as if that makes them innocent, but they can create a hostile work environment.
This is especially true in a workplace where there is a significant divide between the sexes. For instance, if there are 20 men in the office and just two women, all of the jokes and comments about how women are inferior could certainly become overbearing very quickly.
If you’ve been experiencing this, remember that this is also a form of sexual harassment, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and it is illegal. There are steps you can take to fight back against harassment and to protect yourself from it in the future. Be sure you know what they are, what actions to take in New Jersey and what type of evidence will best help your case.
Source: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, “Sexual Harassment,” accessed Oct. 06, 2016
