Sexual Harassment: Get Support

In light of COVID-19 SVR offices will be operating remotely as of Monday, March 16, 2020. We will continue to offer virtual appointments. Please call the 24/7 helpline (212-854-HELP/4357) to speak with an advocate or schedule an appointment.

What Is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment are unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, or other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature in which submission to or rejection of such conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's work or school performance. Sexual Harassment may create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or school environment .

Sexual harassment can include the following behaviors:

Sex-specific derogatory names, i.e, calling a woman slut or whore
Spreading sexual rumors
Rating people on sexual activity or performance
Disseminating compromising photographs or videos of a student
Circulating, showing, or creating emails or websites of a sexual nature
Demanding hugs
Invading personal space
Making unnecessary physical contact, including unwanted touching
Leering or inappropriate staring

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines sexual harassment as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment."

Sexual Harassment in an Academic Setting

Sexual harassment is associated with the following situations:

A student harassing another student or students
A professor or staff member harassing a student
A student harassing a professor or staff member

In academic settings, sexual harassment often encompasses an unequal power dynamic, where one person is in a position of power, such as a club leader, professor, teaching assistant, or advisor.

Types of Harassment

There are two main types of harassment in workplace or academic settings:

Quid pro quo, or "this for that": when sexual favors or requests are made on the condition of one’s employment or academic career

Hostile environment: when the harassment is severe or pervasive enough to create an environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive

Other Things to Consider:

You may choose to speak with an advocate to enlist confidential support around:

Reporting rights:
- Enlisting the aid of law enforcement
- Filing a complaint with the Office of University Life and Community Standards
On-campus accommodations (Housing, Academic, Financial)
On- and off-campus referrals (mental health, follow up care, healing support)
Safety planning
Assistance drafting a victim impact statement
Court advocacy or assistance obtaining legal representation
Remembering it's not your fault
Identifying a friend or other support person to be by your side
Learning how to discuss the incident with family members