Jill just arrived at James Madison University. She is eager and excited to be here and finds most of her classes enjoyable. Jill however seems to be having trouble grasping the concepts in her psychology class and she goes to her professor for extra help. He suggests that the two of them meet at his place over dinner, and discuss the material. He feels that the more casual, laid-back atmosphere will help her better grasp the concepts and that getting to know him one-on-one will improve her grade for the course. She is not sure how to take this invitation and decides to decline his request. After she declines, she finds it difficult to schedule a meeting with her professor to discuss the course he always has other students to see or previous engagements. .
What would you do if you were Jill? How would you feel? Would you feel sexually harassed? Are your rights being violated? Sexual harassment is defined by the U.S. Employment Equal Opportunity Commission as "any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work enviroment" (http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-sex.html). .
Over the years, many people have believed that the issue of sexual harassment should not be discussed in public. Sexual harassment was to be discussed behind closed doors. In spite of this, the social and political systems have changed instantaneously. This social problem has affected men and women throughout time however, it seems that the women of our society are more effected by this issue. This social topic has encouraged women to establish organizations in order to help them discuss the issues more openly and to demand equality including fairness and justice throughout the workplace and in their social lives as well.
