The 411 on sexual harassment
Sexual assault, sexual harassment and date rape are very serious issues that many Canadians face on a daily basis.
In a 1993 Health Canada survey, four out of five female undergraduates surveyed at Canadian universities said that they had been victims of violence in a dating relationship. Of that number, 29 per cent reported incidents of sexual assault.
The following will educate students on various facts regarding sexual assault, sexual harassment, and date rape.
Sexual Assault Is:
- Any unwanted act of a sexual nature forced by one person upon another;
- Force Includes:
- Using physical strength or weapons.
- Threats of using physical strength or weapons.
- Getting a person high or drunk in order to have sex.
- Having sex with someone who cannot consent. For example, she has too much to drink or is asleep.
- A crime, even in a dating or spousal relationship.
- Not a loss of control; it is an act of power and control.
Facts about Sexual Assault
- One in four Canadian women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime - half of these assaults will be against women under 16.
- Of the women who are sexually assaulted, 85 per cent are assaulted by men they know.
- No woman ever “asks” or deserves to be sexually assaulted - whatever a woman wears, wherever she goes, whomever she talks to, “no” means “no”.
- Call the Women's Sexual Assault Help Line for confidential support - 1-800-461-2929.
Sexual Harassment is?
- As defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: “sexual harassment consists of verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, imposed on the basis of sex, that denies, limits, or provides different treatment.”
Examples of Sexual Harassment
- Physical touching of any kind that is sexual in nature.
- Direct or implied threats that submission to sexual advances may favorably affect employment, work status, promotion, grades, or letters of recommendation, or that rejection of sexual advances may produce a negative effect.
- Direct propositions of a sexual nature.
- Subtle pressure for sexual activity, one element of which may be conduct such as repeated or unwanted staring.
- A pattern of conduct that tends to bring discomfort and/or humiliation, which may include comments of a sexual nature, or sexually explicit jokes, statements, questions, or anecdotes.
- A pattern of conduct that would tend to bring discomfort or humiliation to a reasonable person at whom the conduct was directed, which may include unnecessary touching, patting, hugging, or brushing against a person's clothing or body, or remarks about sexual activity or speculations about previous sexual experience.
Date Rape is?
- A term used for sexual assault that occurs in a dating relationship. It is against the law whether you are on your first date or have been dating for months or years.
How to avoid Date Rape:
- Be aware that alcohol and drugs are often related to date rape.
- Never leave your drink unattended.
- Trust your gut feelings - intuition is a powerful tool.
- Set sexual limits - it is your body, and no one has the right to force you to do anything you don't want to do
- Be forceful and firm - do not worry about making a scene or not being polite.
- If you are unsure of a date, go in a group or double date.
- Avoid secluded places where you are in a vulnerable position.
- Be careful when you invite someone to your home or are invited to his/her home.
Date Rape Warning Signs: Are you dating a man who:
- Does not listen to you? Men like this generally have little respect for women and would be more likely to hear “no” as meaning “CONVINCE ME”.
- Ignores your personal space and boundaries?
- Expresses anger or aggression towards women as individuals or in general?
- Does what he wants regardless of what you want?
- Tries to make you feel guilty, or accuses you of being “uptight” if you resist his sexual overtures?
- Acts excessively jealous or possessive?
- Has an unrealistic idea about women (for example, “women are meant to serve men”). Such men are not likely to take your objections to sex seriously.
- Abuses alcohol or drugs? Those who expect sex after they have been drinking may use force if they encounter resistance.
Recent developments in addressing the issue of sexual harassment have made two things clear for colleges and universities: neither society at large, nor the legal system, will tolerate a passive approach to stopping sexual harassment on campus.
It is important that colleges and universities make serious efforts to address and remedy sexual harassment within their classrooms and offices -- not just to for the purpose of avoiding the threat of social stigma or legal proceedings, but to protect the integrity of the institution and the well-being of its students, faculty, and staff.
Past experience suggests that the best way to approach the issue of sexual harassment at colleges and universities is to develop clear and respected policies for dealing with complaints and educating the entire campus community about sexual harassment and its consequences.
In a 1993 Health Canada survey, four out of five female undergraduates surveyed at Canadian universities said that they had been victims of violence in a dating relationship. Of that number, 29 per cent reported incidents of sexual assault.
The following will educate students on various facts regarding sexual assault, sexual harassment, and date rape.
Sexual Assault Is:
- Any unwanted act of a sexual nature forced by one person upon another;
- Force Includes:
- Using physical strength or weapons.
- Threats of using physical strength or weapons.
- Getting a person high or drunk in order to have sex.
- Having sex with someone who cannot consent. For example, she has too much to drink or is asleep.
- A crime, even in a dating or spousal relationship.
- Not a loss of control; it is an act of power and control.
Facts about Sexual Assault
- One in four Canadian women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime - half of these assaults will be against women under 16.
- Of the women who are sexually assaulted, 85 per cent are assaulted by men they know.
- No woman ever “asks” or deserves to be sexually assaulted - whatever a woman wears, wherever she goes, whomever she talks to, “no” means “no”.
- Call the Women's Sexual Assault Help Line for confidential support - 1-800-461-2929.
Sexual Harassment is?
- As defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: “sexual harassment consists of verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, imposed on the basis of sex, that denies, limits, or provides different treatment.”
Examples of Sexual Harassment
- Physical touching of any kind that is sexual in nature.
- Direct or implied threats that submission to sexual advances may favorably affect employment, work status, promotion, grades, or letters of recommendation, or that rejection of sexual advances may produce a negative effect.
- Direct propositions of a sexual nature.
- Subtle pressure for sexual activity, one element of which may be conduct such as repeated or unwanted staring.
- A pattern of conduct that tends to bring discomfort and/or humiliation, which may include comments of a sexual nature, or sexually explicit jokes, statements, questions, or anecdotes.
- A pattern of conduct that would tend to bring discomfort or humiliation to a reasonable person at whom the conduct was directed, which may include unnecessary touching, patting, hugging, or brushing against a person's clothing or body, or remarks about sexual activity or speculations about previous sexual experience.
Date Rape is?
- A term used for sexual assault that occurs in a dating relationship. It is against the law whether you are on your first date or have been dating for months or years.
How to avoid Date Rape:
- Be aware that alcohol and drugs are often related to date rape.
- Never leave your drink unattended.
- Trust your gut feelings - intuition is a powerful tool.
- Set sexual limits - it is your body, and no one has the right to force you to do anything you don't want to do
- Be forceful and firm - do not worry about making a scene or not being polite.
- If you are unsure of a date, go in a group or double date.
- Avoid secluded places where you are in a vulnerable position.
- Be careful when you invite someone to your home or are invited to his/her home.
Date Rape Warning Signs: Are you dating a man who:
- Does not listen to you? Men like this generally have little respect for women and would be more likely to hear “no” as meaning “CONVINCE ME”.
- Ignores your personal space and boundaries?
- Expresses anger or aggression towards women as individuals or in general?
- Does what he wants regardless of what you want?
- Tries to make you feel guilty, or accuses you of being “uptight” if you resist his sexual overtures?
- Acts excessively jealous or possessive?
- Has an unrealistic idea about women (for example, “women are meant to serve men”). Such men are not likely to take your objections to sex seriously.
- Abuses alcohol or drugs? Those who expect sex after they have been drinking may use force if they encounter resistance.
Recent developments in addressing the issue of sexual harassment have made two things clear for colleges and universities: neither society at large, nor the legal system, will tolerate a passive approach to stopping sexual harassment on campus.
It is important that colleges and universities make serious efforts to address and remedy sexual harassment within their classrooms and offices -- not just to for the purpose of avoiding the threat of social stigma or legal proceedings, but to protect the integrity of the institution and the well-being of its students, faculty, and staff.
Past experience suggests that the best way to approach the issue of sexual harassment at colleges and universities is to develop clear and respected policies for dealing with complaints and educating the entire campus community about sexual harassment and its consequences.
