Sexual harassment happens so often that we fail to even recognize harassing behavior as wrong. This is because so many of us--women and men alike--have become desensitized to offensive behaviors. Sexual harassment in any form of inappropriate behavior and should not be tolerated by anyone. It undermines our ability to concentrate and feel like effective, empowered people in the world.

The University of Virginia Defines sexual harassment as:

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, other verbal or physical conduct, or written communications of a sexual nature when:

• Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or educational experience;
• Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting such individual; or
• Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work, academic performance, or participation in extracurricular activities, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment.

Effects of sexual harassment, particularly in academia, include:

• Victims may feel powerless to stop the situation.  It is common to fear retaliation, for example with grades or recommendations.  They fear that their complaints will not be taken seriously, or that they will be perceived as causing trouble. 
• Victims often blame themselves, and fear that others will also blame them, even though it is the harassing person's authority or influence that has been misused. 
• Victims often change academic plans.  They may drop courses, change majors, drop out of school, change residence, avoid advisers, or neglect academic commitments or responsibilities to avoid a harasser. 
• Victims often have physical symptoms of stress, such as stomach problems or headaches.  They may also become depressed, moody, or irritable without knowing why. 
• Victims often suffer lower self-esteem, self-respect, and self-confidence. 
• Victims are often confused about what is happening and/or what can be done about it.