Cyber harassment is increasingly common today

How would you define the term sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment can be characterized as follows: sexual harassment is bullying or even coercion that is sexual in nature. It can be perpetrated by anyone, but it is quite often present in places where there is a clear hierarchy. For example, at work, where the boss offers special benefits to his subordinate in return for being at his disposal at any time. Another situation is a teacher and a student, and the like. Although this is not a problem that is specific to one gender, women and children are much more often the targets of sexual harassment. It is typical of sexual harassment that the person being targeted does not consent to the behaviour. If both parties consent, it is not sexual harassment.

Are there multiple forms of sexual harassment?

Yes, in terms of forms, sexual harassment can be divided as follows: cyber, verbal and physical.

How do I know it is not a stupid joke but sexual harassment? After all, we are different. Where do correctness, respect and deference end?

However, the boundary is somewhat individual. What is still normal for one person may not be for another. However, I would characterize it as follows: if someone makes unsolicited sexual advances, especially ones that are repeated even after the person refuses, or if someone forces sexual behaviour in exchange for promises of benefits or makes inappropriate comments of a sexual nature, sends you unsolicited electronic communications of a sexual nature, makes inappropriate jokes or inappropriate gestures of a sexual nature, exposes themselves in public, touches the victim even if they do not want to, or rapes or attempts to rape the victim.

 How can I defend myself as a victim?

There are two options. Tell the attacker I am uncomfortable, and defend myself verbally at the very least. If you cannot protect yourself, for example, if it is your teacher, report it to the Counselling Office of VSB-TUO, the Ethics Committee of VSB-TUO, the Head of the Department, the Dean or the Ombudsman.

I was surprised to learn that cybersexual harassment exists. Is it becoming more and more common? Where is it most common? Is it by e-mail, or can the victim be contacted, for example, via social networks?

Cyber harassment is increasingly common today. Rather than e-mails, today it is social networks (Instagram, Tik Tok, Viber, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, ...). This is especially true for the younger generation.

What should a person do when faced with sexual harassment, either as a victim or as a bystander?

The first principle is that you should not be silent. Both when you do not consent to sexual harassment and when something happens to you. Even though it may be difficult, go ahead and report the incident. Do the same when you are a bystander. It is necessary to abandon sexual objectification, where the other person is seen only as an object of sexual desire, stop tolerating rape jokes, and acknowledge that this is not just a victim issue. The problem will be solved the moment everyone becomes interested in it.