• 11
  • November
    2011

The recent accusations against Herman Cain have brought sexual harassment conversations back to the forefront, and parties on both sides of the conversation have resumed their debates about what constitutes sexual harassment.

In California and throughout the country, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines sexual harassment as "unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature." The EEOC goes on to explain that in order to be considered harassment, negative behavior must be "so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile work environment."

The definition needs to be wide-reaching to encompass the range inappropriate behavior that happens in the workplace. However, a recent Op-Ed article by Katie Roiphe argues that the definition of sexual harassment is too vague and encompasses a spectrum of appropriate behavior.

In her article, Roiphe states that "the majority of women in the workplace are not tender creatures and are largely adept at dealing with all varieties of uncomfortable or hostile situations." While many women may be accustomed to dealing with derogatory comments from co-workers, they should not need to tolerate it.

In her extreme nature, Roiphe goes on to write that the only way to avoid sexual harassment is by aspiring to be "drab, cautious, civilized, [and] quiet." A little commonsense in the workplace can go a long way in avoiding harassment. Regardless, it is foolish to think that creating a safe work environment will stifle creativity and humor in the workplace.

If an individual feels so trapped by sexual harassment laws in the workplace that he or she needs to revert to becoming drab or unproductive, then that individual may be better served by time in therapy than in the office.

Source: The New York Times, "In Favor of Dirty Jokes and Risqué Remarks," Katie Roiphe, Nov. 12, 2011