Is sexual harassment LOOSEly defined so that it can be BROADly applied?

Question

If sexual harassment is "anything that makes a woman uncomfortable" then it can be punished at any time for some stupid misconception of a socially neurotic airhead. If her underwear gets wedged between her legs due to no one's actions but her own, is she being harassed? If men fundamentally do not recognize or understand sexual harassment, can they be trained to stop doing it? I think that the feminist crowd is so nasty in attitude, looks, and weight that they need not concern themselves with being harassed and are merely jealous that the pretty girls get all the attention. What I am getting at is: has sexual harassment become merely a tool for the angry childish feminist crowd to punish men for being men without clearly defining what behaviors are right and wrong? Does anyone else out there feel the same way that I do about these small breasted ball busters? Shame on them for trivializing the real sexual harassment that some women have had to deal with.

Answer 1

Yes this is pretty much the case (refers to the main question only).

"Sexual conduct becomes unlawful only when it is unwelcome".

This statement alone gives no time cut-off to when the conduct must be "unwelcome". So the conduct could be unwelcome after the fact or during the incident. So if someone comes up says a sexual comment to me and I laugh it off one day can I come back the next day in a less welcoming mindset and call it sexual harasment? The statement seems silent on this topic. Basically sexual harassment is in the eye of the beholder which means that you can be accused of it at anytime and for any reason. This also opens the door for potential blackmail.

"The victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct".

So now not only can the harassed prosecute the harasser so can anyone else within earshot. This includes people who were not included in the conversation or those whom the harasser didn't know were around or were spying.

The other problem is that the word sexual isn't defined well. Can just a look be sexual in nature? Can otherwise innocent gestures be deemed sexual in nature (like the ok sign)? How does one know, when there is real doubt, that the offending material was sexual in nature? How does one know the intent of the doer of the action or sayer of the words (yes sometimes these things are clear but there is A LOT of grey area) was to be of hostile/sexist intent?

Anything and everything under the sun could fit under this which is why sexual harassment is defined loosely and can be applied broadly.

Answer 2

Sexual harassment is a tough issue, for sure. You just have to get to know the person first before you can know what comments you can make with them and which comments to keep for yourself.

I understand that you can get frustrated. But there's nothing wrong with looking and admiring. That doesn't mean you need to make a comment on how someone looks. If a lady is fishing for a compliment, well, go ahead and give it. Just do it in good taste. Say something to the effect that the outfit compliments their figure and not how that shirt makes their jugs look huge. Know what I mean?

I don't think it's just coming from an "angry childish feminist crowd". It's coming from those who want to be respected and not talked to like they're in the latest issue of Hustler Magazine. There's a difference in how you make a compliment.

I hope, though, that you're not one of those that are shallow enough to think that only large-breasted women are pretty or beautiful. Look at Keira Knightly or Ashley Judd, or even Nicole Kidman. Because from the sound of one of the last sentences, you are.

Answer 3

Apparently you miss the point. The harassment law is in res ponce to bosses and supervisors using their position to take advantage of an employee, this can be male or female. I've been in the workforce38 years and I have seen the changes in the way people work with each other. When i started women were routinely patted on the rear, made the subject of sexual jokes , propositioned by bosses. it made for a unpleasant working environment for everybody. Over the years there have been lawsuits even criminal proceedings, there have been men in the same situation. Over the years the workplace has gotten a more friendly place because some idiot is not propositioning women or making sexual jokes about them. There are clearly defined rules of conduct that if you have half a brain will understand and follow. Since I was working all this time I'm not surprised by your stupidity. If you weren't there when these laws were not in effect you have no knowledge of the subject. You are in an environment that is vastly different than when these laws were enacted. They were necessary because there was always a man or woman that would make derogatory remarks and gee now you can't.

Answer 4

I am sure there have been times when sexual harassment was yelled when it was not being done, but if all the men out in the work place and outside of it acted like "real men" and not teenagers high on hormones we would not even have this problem to begin with.

Now I am not saying all men are guilty of this, but a lot of us are.

Answer 5

I agree with you, completely.

I would also like to add that sexual harassment is purposefully loosely defined so that it can be purposefully broadly applied by certain group of individuals who want to keep it as a means to attain power.

Real victims often do not fall in to this category and that is the real problem.

Answer 6

Anyone can sue for sexual harassment. That does not mean they will win. The burden of proof is on the plaintiff. Don't sweat it, let them sue, if the intend was not never there, how can they prove something that did not exist? I once touched a female on the shoulder and she said she could sue me for that. I said go ahead mama. I never touched her again. She tried but nothing came of it, she had gotten so mad. Big deal. Good luck

Answer 7

i think it is too loosely defined .. sexual harassment can technically be whatever the woman wants it to be.

i was sexually harassed at work .. there was this guy who would always tell me to suck his .. john wayne .. and would always walk by if i was knealing or doing something low to the ground and shove my head to his crotch area. and after i told him to stop he didnt, thats when i turned him in, he followed me home one day and that was it for me. -- that CLEARLY is wrong, he wa married and i was engaged to someone .. that had NO REASON to be going on, especially after i told him to stop.

if a guy accidentally touched a girls boob at the work place (it happens cause i accidentally brush against other womens boobs too, lol) the woman can report him and ultimately get him fired. some people do cross the line purposely, and they should be punished, but others do it unintentional and they to me, should get warned then if it happens again be punished.

and thats where i stand on that issue.

Answer 8

I happen to feel that sexual harassment in the workplace is a good thing.

it keeps the bitches on thier toes.

Answer 9

I do think I agree with you. Well spoken !