Harassment refers to behavior or actions intended to frighten, coerce or threaten someone, often for the purpose of exerting control, creating fear or forcing them to act in a certain way. It can occur in various forms, including verbal threats, nonverbal gestures or physical actions, and can take place in various settings, such as at work, in schools or (sports) clubs.
Types of sexual harassment in the workplace include
- Verbal harassment: Using threatening language, bullying, shouting or harsh words intended to instill fear or control the behavior of others.
- Physical harassment: using body language, gestures or physical proximity to make someone feel unsafe, threatened or uncomfortable, such as standing too close to someone in a threatening manner or making threatening gestures.
- Psychological harassment: Manipulating or using tactics to create fear or insecurity, such as making someone feel helpless, undermining their self-confidence or spreading false information about them.
- Sexual harassment: the use of threats or coercive behavior to sexually influence someone, often through unwanted advances or the suggestion of harm if the person does not comply.
Sexual harassment is often used as a tactic to exert power and control over others, and it can have significant emotional and psychological effects on the person being targeted. It is considered a serious problem in many organizations.
