Sexual Harassment WebQuest

Introduction | The Task | Resources | The Process | Learning Advice | Conclusion | Author

 

  Flirting or sexual harassment?

 

Introduction

Sexual harassment is sometimes difficult to define and recognize.  Sexual harassment comes in many forms:  verbal, physical, and emotional.  What may be acceptable for one person may be inappropriate to another person.  Simply stated, sexual harassment is in the eye of the beholder and should be taken seriously.  Therefore, when does a look become a leer, a touch become a grope, a joke become a taunt, a tease become a harassment, or unwanted attention become too much?  Many cases of sexual harassment go unreported by students. 

This WebQuest will help you to know what sexual harassment is and what to do if it happens to you.

 

The Task

 

Ronnie is 17 years old and a Cooperative Business Education student at Cherokee High School employed at The Beckett Corporation—a large insurance company.  While on the job, Ronnie becomes friendly with Rob in Accounting who is not in her department.  Rob is 32 years old, married with three children.  Rob stops by to talk and calls Ronnie several times during the day.   He tells her how beautiful she is and compliments her about her professional dress.  After a week or so, Ronnie begins to feel uncomfortable with all the attention Rob is paying her.  He persistently asks her to lunch and Ronnie declines.  She does not feel comfortable talking to her supervisor or her co-op teacher.  Rob is becoming more persistent offering to walk Ronnie to her car at the end of the day.  She starts to feel very uncomfortable with this situation because Rob is constantly asking her out and Ronnie does not know what to do. 

How are the following people affected in the above situation?

1.                 Rob as the sexual harasser persistent in his advances

2.                 Ronnie as the victim of sexual harassment

3.                 Her supervisor’s role in addressing the problem and the company’s responsibility

 

Using the internet, research the following questions:

Questions  

1.                 What constitutes “sexual harassment”?

2.                 How is a victim’s work ethic affected by sexual

            harassment?

3.                 What strategies can Ronnie use toward Rob?

4.                 What are some examples of verbal, physical and

            environmental sexual harassment?

5.                 Research sexual harassment cases and their verdicts.

6.                 When does flirting end and sexual harassment begin—

            what is the difference?

7.                 How would Ronnie go about filing a complaint?

8.                 What clues in the environment signal that sexual

            harassment exists?

9.                 Why are victims reluctant to report sexual   

            harassment?                                       

Text Box: In Fiscal Year 2004, EEOC received 13,136 charges of sexual harassment. 15.1% of those charges were filed by males. EEOC resolved 13,786 sexual harassment charges in Fiscal Year 2003 and recovered $37.1 million in monetary benefits for charging parties and other aggrieved individuals (not including monetary benefits obtained through litigation).

 

 

10.                What action must her supervisor take?                                    

 

 

 

 

Resources

 

Use the following links to accomplish your task.

 

 

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          Internet Resources

 

·                     http://www.takecareonline.org/Harassment/default.htm

·                     http://www.bernicesandler.con/id42.htm

·                     http://hr.dop.wa.gov/helpacademy/resource/sh12.htm

·                     http://www.neu.edu/aa/examples.html

·                     http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/sexualharassment/what.html

·                     http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/sexualharassment/report1.html

·                     http://www.wackenhut.com/careers/sharrass.htm

·                     http://www.plaintalk.corvallis.or.us/flirtingvssexual.htm

·                     http://womensissues.about.com/library/blsexharassmentstats.htm  

 

The Process

 

Using  Cherokee Research Format, create a report researching           
             sexual harassment.

 

The title of the report is “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.”

 

Use each question as a subheading in your report eliminating the numbers. 

 

Answer each question paraphrasing what you have found from each website. 

 

You may research other sites to expand your knowledge of sexual harassment.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning Advice

 

Try to imagine yourself in Ronnie’s shoes.  You are an attractive 17 year-old high school student flattered at first by the attentions of a handsome fellow worker.  At first, you welcome the attention and the compliments, but later become uncomfortable with his advances.  It is important for you to take this role-play very seriously so that you can understand how Ronnie must find a solution to her problem. 

In addition to the websites recommended, research other sites to further expand your knowledge of sexual harassment. 

 

   

Conclusion

 

Congratulations!  You will know exactly how to respond should you be involved in a sexual harassment situation.  The important thing to remember is that sexual harassment is in the eye of the beholder and should be taken seriously. 

 

Author   

 

This page was written by:      Loraine Lord-Morgan, llordmorgan@lrhsd.org

                                             Cooperative Business Education Coordinator

                                                

                                             Cherokee High School

                                             120 Tomlinson Mill Road

                                             Marlton, NJ  08053

Last updated:                        November 9, 2005