Definition of sexual harassment

The term "sexual harassment" emerged in the United States in the 1970s as a way to describe unwelcome and often hostile sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace. The concept of sexual harassment can be traced back to a landmark decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1964 in the case of Griggs v. Duke Power Co. The case established that employers had a legal obligation to provide equal employment opportunities for all individuals based on their qualifications and abilities, regardless of their sex or other protected characteristics. In 1975, The National Organization for Women (NOW) adopted a resolution defining sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination in the workplace, and in 1976, they published a pamphlet titled "Sexual Harassment of Working Women" which provided guidance on how to recognize, resist, and report such behavior. In 1980, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published guidelines as part of its Title VII regulations, defining sexual harassment as a violation of federal civil rights laws. The concept of quid pro quo harassment, which involves the conditioning of employment or educational benefits or opportunities on the granting of a sexual favor, and hostile work environment harassment, which creates an atmosphere that is intimidating, hostile, or offensive to a person because of their sex, were also detailed in these guidelines. Subsequently, several high-profile cases, such as the American Airlines flight attendants case in 1978 and the Meritor Savings Bank case in 1986, set legal precedents for recognizing sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination under Title VII, and putting employers on notice that they have a legal duty to prevent and address sexual harassment in the workplace. In summary, the term "sexual harassment" emerged in the 1970s as a way to describe unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace, and gained legal recognition as a form of sex discrimination under Title VII in the U.S. In the 1980s.