Opinion....?

Question

Why do you think sexual harassment is such a controversial form of sex discrimination?

Answer 1

Mainly because most people misunderstand exactly what it means. Sexual Harassment is any unwanted attention of a sexual nature that is directed at a person OR any sort of inappropriate imagery/jokes of a sexual nature that makes someone feel threatened or uncomfortable(as in a joke, innuendo, suggestion, or implication). "Coming out" is NOT seen as sexual harassment because it is not directed against anyone, it is a simple statement of fact.( if coming out was deemed harassment then by those same criteria acknowledging that you are heterosexual, married, or have children could also be seen as harassment). Interestingly enough epitaphs and slurs as directed against Homosexuals ARE indeed sexual harassment as they are specifically designed to demean and humiliate the victim(the same applies for slurs against females as in the word for "female dog").
In order for sexual harassment charges to be "filed" the law plainly states that the harassor has to be informed that what they are doing IS sexual harassment and told to stop, their immediate supervisor must also be informed. Until someone actually complains, sexual imagery and jokes are legally not sexual harassment(but most places do indeed ban such activities to prevent any such complaints from occurring.)

Answer 2

Because it has been held in the dark for so long. It has only been in the past 10-20 years that both men and women have gotten the courage and the legal and court backing to stand up to sexual bullies at work, at school, in society in general. It is controversial because it goes against the "norm" of society where a woman was always considered responsible for a man's sexual behavior - such an ingrown belief takes many years to change.

Answer 3

Because it is hard to define.

For example when I came out at work I came out during a party. Someone attending filed a sexual discrimination claim as sexual harassment against me because my coming out made them uncomfortable. My director laughed and said the claim for sexual harrassment against me was sexual harrassment of me and suggested I file a claim.