I was sexually harassed for the first time today. Thoughts that have been running through my head.

[ismnotwasm]

15. That's fucked up

Some women use "protective coloration" to avoid harassment- the ones that don't far too often get blamed for something that isn't their fault.

Interestingly, I just finished yearly competencies for my job, and one included sexual harassment, which included gender harassment, which may or may not be sexual in nature-- I was glad to see it. It also tied sexual harassment in the workplace to the 1964 civil rights act-- I was glad to see that too.

Sexual Harassment
It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.

Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person’s sex. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general.

Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex.

Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted).

The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.

http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.cfm

Unfortunately there is little protection out on the street, in communities, in homes. No one showed have to feel guilty or ashamed or conflicted when they're experiencing what amounts to assault, and can turn into battery. No one.