In: Psychology
In your own words, what is the difference between flirting and harassing? How could you tell that the other person was interested? What steps, if any, did you take to be sure you would not be accused of sexual harassment later?
Flirting vs Sexual Harassment
There is a difference between flirting and sexual harassment.
Flirting
Many times, flirting is
welcome attention. It goes both ways, and both people enjoy it.
Flirting doesn't make you feel bad. It's perfectly fine for kids to
flirt with each other in school.
Flirting is OK because it can be between two classmates who are
both doing the flirting, and no one is being dishonored. But it is
not OK for adults to flirt with kids. In fact, it is illegal for
adults to flirt with kids.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is
attention or actions that are not wanted and make you feel bad. If
somebody flirts and it is unwanted, ask him or her to stop. If they
don't stop, it is considered harassment.
It is illegal to harass somebody.
The key difference between flirting and sexual harassment is that
sexual harassment is unwelcome. The contact was not invited or
accepted. It is one-sided because only one of the people in the
situation wants to be in that situation. It does not matter how the
harasser says he or she "meant it"; it only matters how it makes
you feel.
Sexual harassment is never OK, and nobody ever deserves it. If you
are harassed, be sure to report it. If a friend is harassed, talk
to them and make sure they report it. The harasser needs to be
stopped.