Sexual harassment is unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, sexual advances and/or requests for sexual favors. Gender-based harassment, on the other hand, is harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity or gender expression even if the acts do not involve contact of a sexual nature.
Both sexual harassment and gender-based harassment violate GW policy when: … The conduct creates a hostile environment. A hostile environment exists when the conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with, limits, or deprives an individual from participating in or benefiting from the university’s educational, employment, and/or campus-residential experience when viewed both objectively and subjectively.
There are two main types of sexual harassment
- Hostile Environment: Some examples may include:
- Repeated propositions or requests for a sexual relationship to an individual who has indicated this behavior is not wanted
- Unwelcome physical contact of a sexual nature
- Sexual gestures, noises, remarks, jokes. questions, or comments about a person’s sexuality that are so severe or pervasive that they would be perceived as creating a hostile work environment