Sexual Harassment's Emotional Toll

According to researchers at the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly 50 percent of American working women will experience on-the-job sexual harassment at some point in their careers.

"I've assessed a number of these cases myself, and one frequent outcome is deep depression," says Dana Westmoreland, who frequently counsels working women in Charlotte, N.C. "We also see a lot of anxiety disorders and other stress-related symptoms. Many of these women have been emotionally injured, so our first step is to make a complete overall assessment and then refer them to appropriate treatment.

When does harmless banter escalate into harmful -- and decidedly illegal -- sexual harassment? According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), harassment includes any of the following when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment:

• Unwelcome sexual advances.

• Requests for sexual favors.

• Suggestive remarks, pointed references to a person's sexuality or displaying pornographic materials on the job.

• Making sexual submission a condition of employment or promotion.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.The EEOC says sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to the following:

• The victim as well as the harasser may be a woman or a man. The victim does not have to be of the opposite sex.

• The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker or a non-employee.

• The victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct.

• Unlawful sexual harassment may occur without economic injury to or discharge of the victim.

• The harasser's conduct must be unwelcome.

Although every situation is different, the APA suggests that victims consider the following strategies:

• Say NO! to the harasser, loudly and directly.

• Write a letter to the harasser describing your negative reaction to his or her conduct. Send it by certified mail.

• Carefully document all incidents of harassment, including dates, times, places and names.

• Find out who's responsible for preventing sexual harassment in your department or organization, and blow the whistle on the harasser.

• If you're experiencing anxiety, anger or depression because of harassment, schedule a session with a professional counselor.

For more information, go to the EEOC Web site.