Sexual harassment
A concept coined in the 1970s addressing unwanted sexual behavior.
Sexual harassment refers to harassment involving unwanted sexual behavior or sexist targeting. Though sometimes motivated by sexual desire, it is more often committed to hurt women or punish people for violating gender norms. All types can harm a victim's physical and mental health and affect their personal and professional lives. The term was coined in the 1970s, and its legal and social understanding has grown over time, with many countries adopting laws against it since the 1990s.
- coined by
- Mary Rowe, Ph.D.
- field
- Workplace discrimination, law, social activism
- key legal classification
- quid pro quo and hostile environment harassment
Reader's Guide
The legal understanding of sexual harassment developed through U.S. lawsuits in the 1970s and 1980s, many brought by African American women who applied civil rights principles to sex discrimination. Early precedent was set with Williams v. Bundy v. Vinson. Alexander v. 39 countries had laws explicitly prohibiting harassment based on sexual orientation, and 24 addressed gender identity. Over the 1980s and 1990s, psychologists defined gender harassment as a key subtype, which has nothing to do with sexual attraction and is motivated by sexist beliefs and gender policing.
Did You Know?
- Many of the earliest U.S. sexual harassment lawsuits were brought by African American women who were former civil rights activists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Sexual harassment' mean in Crime and Deviance 1-24?
The episode defines it as unwanted sexual behavior or sexist targeting directed at a person. It stresses that while sexual desire can play a role, the act more frequently serves to hurt women or punish those who step outside expected gender norms.
What are the two key legal classifications covered in the canon?
The entry identifies quid pro quo harassment and hostile environment harassment as the central legal categories. These two types form the structural basis for how the concept is codified in statutes.
Why does the episode treat Sexual harassment as a significant deviance topic?
It underscores that every form of the behavior can inflict lasting physical and mental harm while upending a victim's personal and professional life. The entry also traces the concept's journey from a 1970s coinage to a globally recognized legal and social framework.
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