Sexual Harassment: Its Role in the Workplace and Possible Steps For Future Progress

Lexico Dictionaries defines sexual harassment as “behavior characterized by the making of unwelcome and inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances in a workplace or other professional or social situation.” In this paper, we will explore the role sexual harassment plays in the workplace, its connection to general harassment, and the types of ways in which it exists. We take a look at the legality differences of quid pro quo and hostile work environment harassment and how victims can be treated differently based on the circumstances. We discover how the media covers certain cases on sexual harassment and the way #Metoo created a platform for women to speak on this topic. Sexual harassment has shown many problems in its research and the failure to implement any real change. We learn that in order to produce any change, organizations and policy makers need to understand victim’s needs and the best way to handle claims of sexual harassment. The main takeaway is sexual harassment in the workplace is not a black and white issue, as each victim has their own experience and each workplace has their own unique environment.