Lamberton Law Blog

Researchers identify at least three different forms of sexual harassment.  "Gender hostility" refers to derogatory comments or actions that invoke sex or gender, rather than explicit requests for sex.  Sexist hostility is specific to gender (for example, someone makes a joke about women in a meeting.  Sexual hostility has a sexual component (for example, someone asks about a co-worker’s sexual activities.  "Unwanted sexual attention" includes unwelcome attempts to initiate sexual or romantic relations (for example, someone repeatedly asks a co-worker out on dates, sends them sexual texts, or touches them in sexually inappropriate ways.  "Sexual coercion" involves many of the same behaviors as the unwanted sexual attention, but comes with a threat of consequences — such as being fired or refused a promotion — for not cooperating.