When most people think of sexual harassment, they imagine a situation in which someone in a position of authority (such as a manager, supervisor, or movie director) makes unwanted sexual advances toward a subordinate.
It’s crucial to realize, though, that sexual harassment does not always have to involve sexual desire. Sexual harassment accusations can stem from behavior directed at a person based on their gender. This allows for same-sex sexual harassment to occur regardless of either party’s sexual orientation.
According to a legal firm’s telephone research, 41% of males who had experienced sexual harassment indicated their harasser was another guy. According to the same poll, 100 percent of women claimed their harasser was a guy, leading to the conclusion that male sexual harassment by males is more prevalent than female sexual harassment by women—despite the fact that both fall within the criteria of sexual harassment.
Keep reading to learn what qualifies as sexual harassment. If you have been a victim of this type of unlawful behavior, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation. No matter your gender or the gender of the perpetrator, we are here to help you.
Inappropriate contact
Any physical contact that the victim views as sexual in nature, regardless of how the offender interprets the interaction, might be the foundation for a sexual harassment complaint. After a successful sales meeting, a male boss slapping a male employee on the back might be deemed sexual harassment, even if the supervisor considers the contact harmless “locker room” fun. Inappropriate touching can also take the form of:
- Touching or groping bodily parts (not just intimate parts)
- Massaging or caressing
- Pinching, patting, or rubbing
- Close proximity when inappropriate
- Brushing up against someone on purpose
- Unacceptable remarks
Male on male sexual harassment sometimes takes the form of comments regarding sexuality. A supervisor, for example, may inquire about a subordinate’s weekend sexual activities, make remarks on the subordinate’s attractiveness, or relate a sexual narrative of their own. The supervisor may think it’s all in good fun, or perhaps that they’re congratulating the subordinate. When these activities create a hostile work environment for the subordinate, they are all termed sexual harassment.
Do you require assistance?
According to the same report, 62 percent of sexual harassment victims did nothing to protect their rights or stop the harassment. Allowing oneself to slip into this group is not a good idea! Please call The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 right away for information about your rights and assistance with the processes involved in reporting sexual harassment and/or filing a sexual harassment complaint. The first consultation is always complimentary.
