Any form of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment is never okay.
Sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct is a form of harassment and is unacceptable behaviour of a sexual nature.
It can include:
It can include:
- Sexual harassment (unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature).
- Sexual violence.
- Intimate partner violence.
- Sexual assault.
- Grooming (when a person builds a relationship with another person such as a child, vulnerable person or person in a lesser position of power, so they can abuse them and manipulate them into doing things)
- Coercion or bullying with sexual elements.
- Sexual invitations and demands.
- Comments.
- Non-verbal communication (body language)
- Creation of atmospheres of discomfort.
- Promised resources or advancement in exchange for sexual access.
The term ‘sexual harassment’ captures only some of the possible abuses of power that may occur. Sexual misconduct more specifically raises issues of unequal relationships, consent, and the prevention of equal access to education, opportunities and career progression.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature which:
- violates your dignity
- makes you feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated
- creates a hostile or offensive environment
You don’t need to have previously objected to someone's behaviour for it to be considered unwanted.
This unwanted sexual conduct can happen:
This unwanted sexual conduct can happen:
- In person,
- On the phone,
- By text
- Email, or
- Online.
Both the harasser and the victim/survivor can be of any gender. There also does not need to be a victim involved, for example it could be directed towards a group, such as all women or all; men, or if could be something someone overheard people talking about at work or at university.
It is also the person receiving the sexual behaviour who decides if it is unwanted not the other ways around.
Sexual harassment can include:
- Sexual comments or noises – for example, catcalling or wolf-whistling.
- Sexual gestures.
- Leering, staring or suggestive looks. This can include looking someone up and down.
- Sexual ‘jokes’.
- Sexual innuendos or suggestive comments.
- Unwanted sexual advances or flirting.
- Sexual requests or asking for sexual favours.
- Sending emails or texts with sexual content
- Sexual posts or contact on social media.
- Intrusive questions about a person’s private or sex life.
- Someone discussing sex.
- Commenting on someone's body, appearance or what they’re wearing.
- Spreading sexual rumours.
- Standing close to someone.
- Displaying images of a sexual nature.
- Unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature – for example, brushing up against someone or hugging, kissing or massaging them.
Sexual Assault and Rape
Rape happens when someone didn't want to have sex or didn't give their consent for sex to happen.
Sexual assault refers to many different forms of sexual violence – it is an umbrella term used to describe any sexual activity or act that happened without your consent.
It could include:
Sexual assault refers to many different forms of sexual violence – it is an umbrella term used to describe any sexual activity or act that happened without your consent.
It could include:
- Kissing.
- Attempted rape.
- Touching someone’s breasts or genitals – including through clothing.
- Touching any other part of the body for sexual pleasure or in a sexual manner – for example, stroking someone’s thigh or rubbing their back.
- Pressing up against another person for sexual pleasure.
- Pressuring, manipulating or scaring someone into performing a sexual act on the perpetrator.
- Touching someone’s clothing if done for sexual pleasure or in a sexual manner – for example, lifting up someone’s skirt.
However, please know that this is not a full list. Just because something isn’t included here doesn’t mean it isn’t sexual assault.