What is harassment?
Harassment is when a person’s speech and/or behavior causes one to feel disadvantaged, uncomfortable, or suffer a loss of dignity due to gender, social position, race, nationality, religion/principles, age, occupation, physical features or personality.
- Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence
To be subjected by to remarks of a sexual nature, and/or to be the unwilling victim of sexual actions during study, research, work or off campus activities not to mention any sexual acts of violence, which are criminal offenses under the Penal Code.
Sexual harassment and sexual violence can be done by men to women, women to men or between those of the same gender.
- Power Harassment
Any kind of dominating behavior in the educational, research or work environment which goes beyond what is appropriate resulting in damaging that environment.
- Academic Harassment
There are several types of harassment such as sexual harassment and sexual violence, power harassment, and other kinds of harassment, one of which is academic harassment that occurs in a place of education and research.
Academic harassment refers to verbal or behavioral abuse that takes unfair advantage of an educational or research position to harass, interfere with research, or injure one’s character.
- Alcohol Harassment
Alcohol Harassment refers to forcing a person to drink alcohol, to drink a glass or bottle of alcohol in one go, etc. Intentional drunkenness or forcing someone to drink alcohol who is unable to do so is also a crime of assault.
- Gender Harassment
Gender harassment is harassment related to sexual harassment and is based on a conventional sense of gender roles, namely gender bias.
- Harassment based on discrimination or prejudice
This harassment means a violation of human rights based on prejudice against race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or origin, and is an unacceptable act or behavior in the interest of humanity.
How to avoid being an offender
- Even if you did not intend to be offensive, if you know the person is offended, you should stop that behavior.
- Do not think that because your position is superior to others, they should obey you.
- You cannot always expect to get feedback about your behavior from others. Even if you have no response from others, do not assume that they agree or consent to your behavior.
- Do not flaunt your superior position, but build good relationships based on mutual respect.
- Try to be aware that, if you are in a higher position, your actions and words can have an influence on those below you.
- Try to see things from the other’s perspective and act accordingly.
To prevent harassment
- Clearly tell the offender if you feel their actions are inappropriate. Even if the offender has a higher position, don’t hesitate to indicate your feeling by saying ‘Please stop’, yelling, or running away.
- Let’s have courage in order to stop harassment. If someone near you is being harassed, use every effort to help the victim.
If someone is being harassed
- If you notice anything inappropriate, say something at that time.
- If your friend tells you about inappropriate behavior, listen and give emotional support.
- The claimant has suffered emotionally, so do not talk as if you doubt what they say or suggest that they might be to blame.
- If you need to serve as a witness, take care to protect the victim’s privacy.
- Recommend that they talk to a Center consultant and go with them.