Sexual harassment: What it is and how to cope

Sexual harassment is any form of unwelcome sexual behavior be in verbal or physical in nature. 

If you’re being sexually harassed, you might:

• Feel offended, 
• Feel humiliated, 
• Feel upset 
• Feel anxious, depressed, and stressed 
• Lose confidence and self-esteem
• Be less productive and unable to concentrate.
• Withdraw from social situations

What does sexual harassment include.? 

Sexual harassment can include:

• Touching, grabbing, or making other physical contacts without consent
• Making comments to someone that have a sexual meaning
• Asking for sex or sexual favors
• Inappropriate staring
• Sending unwanted sexual pictures 
• Making sexual gestures or suggestive body movements towards someone
• Cracking sexual jokes and comments around someone
• Questioning people about their sex life
• Insulting someone with sexual comments
• Spreading sexual rumors about someone 
• Demanding hugs all the time
• Using mean words that can put someone down based on their gender
• Stalking someone including online

I’m being sexually harassed — what can I do?

Here are some things you can do:

• Talk to the offender and explain to him or her that the behavior is unwanted and ask them to stop
• Document all the harassment including when it occurred, the names of any people who saw what happened, and what you've done to try to stop it.
• Save all the evidence be it on text or social media. This evidence can help you in reporting 
• Tell someone. You may want to tell a trusted adult, teacher, friend, family, member 
• Report the offender to the police. Sexual harassment is against the law and should be reported to the police.