One might argue that something is harassment when someone else may take it as a compliment. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 defines sexual harassment as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, pictures or objects depicting images of a sexual nature 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 which unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. If these assaults are unwarranted and unwanted, they constitute sexual harassment". Although there have been bogus charges of sexual harassment, this does not mean that all cases should be thrown out. A lot of people, especially women, feel they may lose their jobs or friends if they charge their boss or co-worker with sexual harassment. There is such a debate on whether something is or isn't considered sexually offensive "It seems likely, then, that sexual harassment may be viewed by potential harassers as low-risk behavior, and that victims see few incentives for bringing official complaints"(Riger 614).
The term sexual harassment can be broken down into three categories. The first type is gender differences, and what males and females consider as a " definition of harassment"(Riger 609). The second type is called "quid pro quo" harassment. This form can basically be understood as "You scratch my back, and I"ll scratch yours". This often happens in universities. When faculty leaves an impression on the student that he or she will not pass if he or she does not submit to a sexual request made by their superior is a prime example. The Civil Rights Act of 1972 prohibited sexual and racial discrimination against students and staff in educational programs or activities that receive federal funds.
