9/18/2015WESTEC Corrections Training 1 Introduction to Sexual Harassment Prevention Charles L. Feer, JD,MPA

9/18/2015WESTEC Corrections Training 2 Sexual Harassment Is NOT about sex… It is about POWER, and Abuse of Power.

9/18/2015WESTEC Corrections Training 3 Myths & Facts Myth: Sexual Harassment is not a serious employment problem since it affects only a few women. Fact: Several surveys (1993) have documented the widespread nature of sexual harassment. In one, 88% of the respondents said they had experienced one or more unwanted sexual advances on the job.

9/18/2015WESTEC Corrections Training 4 Myths & Facts Myth: Women should ignore sexual harassment when it occurs. Fact: In one survey, 33% of those reporting sexual harassment tried to ignore the unwanted attentions. In 75% of the cases, the harassment continued or became worse. 25% who attempted to ignore sexual propositions from supervisors noted an increase in their workload or other retaliation.

9/18/2015WESTEC Corrections Training 5 Myths & Facts Myth: It is harmless to harass women verbally on the job. Women who object are “prudes” and have no sense of humor. Fact: Harassment on the job is humiliating and degrading. It undermines a woman’s performance and often threatens her economic livelihood. Women suffer emotionally & physically.

9/18/2015WESTEC Corrections Training 6 Myths & Facts Myth: If a woman really wants to discourage unwanted sexual attention, she can do so. If she’s harassed, she must have asked for it. Fact: Some men seem to believe that a woman’s “no” is really a “yes” and therefore do not accept her refusal. Men’s greater physical, economic and social power enables them to persist.

9/18/2015WESTEC Corrections Training 7 Myths & Facts Myth: Only certain men harass women. Fact: All types of men in all sorts of occupations, whether they hold positions of power, have been reported as harassers. (Judges, professors, doctors, bankers, military, professional athletes.)

9/18/2015WESTEC Corrections Training 8 Terminology & Distinctions Sexism is an ATTITUDE. It is an attitude of a person of one gender is superior to a person of the opposite gender. Example: A man thinks that women are too emotional, or a woman thinks that men are chauvinists.

9/18/2015WESTEC Corrections Training 9 Terminology & Distinctions Sex Discrimination is a BEHAVIOR. It occurs when employment decisions are based on an employee’s gender or when an employee is treated differently because of his/her sex. Example: A Probation Supervisor always asks male officers to participate in an arrest situation avoiding the inclusion of female officers.

9/18/2015WESTEC Corrections Training 10 Terminology & Distinctions Sexual Harassment is a BEHAVIOR. It is defined as unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature. Example: A man whistles at a woman as she walks by, or a woman looks a man up and down as he walks toward her.