Sexual harassment is a huge problem in Australian workplaces. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, more than 1 in 4 of Australian women, and more than 1 in 15 Australian men, say they have been sexually harassed at work. If you\u2019ve experienced sexual harassment, often you can feel disempowered and isolated, like your employer doesn\u2019t care and sees the victim as the problem. We care, and we are here to help you break the silence and stand up for your rights.<\/p>
Definition of Sexual Harassment<\/strong><\/h2>Sexual harassment<\/a><\/strong> is defined as unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, sexual advances, or requests for sexual favours, in circumstances in which a reasonable person in the perpetrator\u2019s position, having regard to all the circumstances, would have anticipated the possibility that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated, or intimidated. You are protected from sexual harassment in the workplace, as a contract worker, in the provision of goods and services, in the provision of education, and in certain other contexts.<\/p>Sexual harassment is the ultimate theft of your autonomy and self-worth, if not stopped, it can leave you emotionally scarred for the rest of your life.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Sexual](\"https:\/\/awdr.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sexual-Harassment-at-Work.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSexual Harassment Is Not Always Clear Cut<\/strong><\/h2>Sexual harassment is not always clear-cut. Some behaviour is obviously sexual harassment, like rape or indecent assault. Other behaviour is more subtle, but can be sexual harassment. Some examples of unwelcome behaviour which may be sexual harassment include:<\/p>
- Questions and comments about your sex life,<\/li>
- Vulgar comments about your appearance,<\/li>
- Repetitive requests for dates or sexual favours after you have already said no,<\/li>
- Displays of pornographic material, via photos, internet sites, emails, videos,<\/li>
- Touching, groping, pinching, hugging,<\/li>
- Leering at your body,<\/li>
- Sexual gestures,<\/li>
- Sexual remarks made via email, text message, or facebook,<\/li>
- Insulting and demeaning banter,<\/li>
- A perpetrator using his or her position of authority to offer rewards or threaten to influence your career on the basis of sexual favours,<\/li>
- Coercion into entering into a sexual relationship,<\/li>
- Sexual comments made to other employees in the workplace within your hearing \u2013 a \u201cboys club\u201d atmosphere,<\/li>
- Sex jokes shared via email<\/a>, verbally or text message, in circumstances where you have made it clear that you find this inappropriate.<\/li><\/ul>
IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE<\/h3>
Sexual harassment can happen to anyone, whether you\u2019re a Merchant Banker or a Retail Assistant, whether you are male, female or intersex. Similarly, a perpetrator could be anyone, a CEO or a Forklift driver, any age, any sex. No matter what your circumstances are, you have the right to be free from sexual harassment.<\/p>
Sexual harassment is a powerful way for the perpetrator to demoralise and control their victim. The perpetrator will exploit a power imbalance to take advantage of their victim.<\/p>
DON’T FEEL ASHAMED<\/h3>
Many people feel ashamed by what has happened or blame themselves, they become withdrawn and stressed, afraid to tackle taboos around reporting sexual harassment. Sometimes there is an implicit (or explicit) message that if you don\u2019t go along with the perpetrator\u2019s behaviour, you will suffer worse harassment or intimidation.<\/p>
Often, a victim fears retaliation for speaking up, such as escalation of harassment, denial of promotions or salary raises, becoming conspicuous amongst colleagues, baseless allegations of poor performance or conduct, and even dismissal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"non](\"https:\/\/awdr.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Dont-Suffer-in-silence-Non-Sexual-Harassment-Lawyers-1024x512.jpg\")
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Sexual harassment is the ultimate theft of your autonomy and self-worth, if not stopped, it can leave you emotionally scarred for the rest of your life.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Sexual harassment is not always clear-cut. Some behaviour is obviously sexual harassment, like rape or indecent assault. Other behaviour is more subtle, but can be sexual harassment. Some examples of unwelcome behaviour which may be sexual harassment include:<\/p> Sexual harassment can happen to anyone, whether you\u2019re a Merchant Banker or a Retail Assistant, whether you are male, female or intersex. Similarly, a perpetrator could be anyone, a CEO or a Forklift driver, any age, any sex. No matter what your circumstances are, you have the right to be free from sexual harassment.<\/p> Sexual harassment is a powerful way for the perpetrator to demoralise and control their victim. The perpetrator will exploit a power imbalance to take advantage of their victim.<\/p> Many people feel ashamed by what has happened or blame themselves, they become withdrawn and stressed, afraid to tackle taboos around reporting sexual harassment. Sometimes there is an implicit (or explicit) message that if you don\u2019t go along with the perpetrator\u2019s behaviour, you will suffer worse harassment or intimidation.<\/p> Often, a victim fears retaliation for speaking up, such as escalation of harassment, denial of promotions or salary raises, becoming conspicuous amongst colleagues, baseless allegations of poor performance or conduct, and even dismissal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tSexual Harassment Is Not Always Clear Cut<\/strong><\/h2>
IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE<\/h3>
DON’T FEEL ASHAMED<\/h3>
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