Sexual harassment is a very common issue in modern workplaces. Although people are now better able to identify sexual harassment in its most egregious forms, some people still find the concept confusing. A surprising number of people who experience sexual harassment in the workplace do not realize that they have rights that they can exercise in order to fight back against the misconduct of supervisors or coworkers.
Certain sexual harassment scenarios are more likely to leave people unsure of their rights. Same-sex sexual harassment sometimes goes unacknowledged because people don’t understand that it is actionable. Those who can recognize same-sex sexual harassment in the workplace may have an easier time speaking up for themselves and fighting back.
Unwanted sexual advances
Although it may be less common than heterosexual harassment, inappropriate flirtation and touching between members of the same sex can potentially still occur. Just as a heterosexual co-worker or supervisor might make unwanted advances or attempt to pressure someone into an unwanted relationship, the same can happen when the parties involved are members of the same sex. Unwanted advances can be particularly stressful in a situation where one person is homosexual or bisexual and the other is heterosexual, particularly if the person making the advances doesn’t stop after someone expresses disinterest or clarifies their orientation.
Quid pro quo harassment
Having power over another person is an aphrodisiac for some people. There are managers who might solicit sexual favors from coworkers even if they are members of the same sex, despite typically displaying heterosexual behavior. Workers should never have to acquiesce to sexual advances to protect their position at a company, secure a raise or obtain a promotion. Quid pro quo harassment involves offering workplace benefits for personal or sexual favors, and it is a violation regardless of the sex of the people involved.
Hostile work environments
A group of coworkers may all gang up on someone of the same sex by spreading malicious rumors about them and excluding them from socialization. They might talk about someone’s sexual orientation, appearance or romantic history in a way that denigrates that individual. Sometimes, such hostile work environments are the consequence of one or two workers abusing another employee. Other times, it might be an entire team alienating and mistreating a member of the same sex.
Those who believe they may have experienced sexual harassment from members of the same sex theoretically have the same rights as those experiencing harassment conducted by members of the opposite sex. Being able to recognize sexual harassment when it occurs is important for someone’s ability to fight back against it.