What you need to know about Sexual Harassment

Nowadays, the percentage of working women is greatly increasing, and accompanying it is an increase in the number of cases of sexual harassment especially at the workplace.
Sexual harassment is defined as intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or giving indecent proposals for sexual favors. In some circumstances, this is considered illegal. It mainly roots from different behaviors leading to abuse or assault. Most of the time, the harasser has power or authority over the victim. In other words, there is preponderance and this is what the harasser is taking advantage. He can be anyone; a client, co-worker, professor, a friend or even a stranger. Contrary to what others think, the victim does not have to be the person harassed, it can be anyone who finds the behavior offensive and is affected by it in any way. There are different types of harasser, and the most common form of it is the Power-player or legally termed as “quid pro quo”. This involves “indecent proposals” in exchange for sexual favors. Examples are getting or keeping a job, favorable grades, credentials, promotions, and more. Next is the Counselor-Helper, also known as the Mother/Father Figure, who creates a mentor-like relationship with the victim and takes advantage of it. Serial Harassers are different; they try to build up a nice image so that people around them would find it hard to believe that they could do such acts. There are also types like the groper, opportunist, bully, confidante, situational, one-of-the-gang, pest, great gallant, intellectual seducer, incompetent, stalkers, and more.
If a harasser, especially in the office, is found guilty, the penalties against him may include warning or reprimand, Transfer or demotion, Salary reduction, Suspension or termination, Training or counseling, or monitoring. Other than these, the Civil Rights Act of 1991 expanded the rights of the complainant, which allows individuals who file actions under the law to collect up to $300,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. In the years following the passing of this law, many states tightened sexual harassment laws and added measures to protect victims from reprisal.