Sexual harassment

Definition

Sexual harassment refers to actions that violate a person’s right to physical and sexual self-determination. The term includes all unwanted, sexual, and inappropriate actions, comments, or gestures.

Note: Sexual harassment is about power and power relations, not consensual sex or sexuality! 

Forms of sexual harassment

  • Verbal harassment: Comments, jokes, or innuendos relating to gender, physical attributes, clothing, or sexual acts. 
  • Nonverbal harassment: Intrusive looks, gestures, or showing sexualized content.
  • Physical harassment: Unwanted touching or advances.
  • Digital harassment: Unwanted messages, images, requests for nude photos, or explicit comments. 

There are no geographical restrictions on sexual violence. Assaults can take place in the workplace as well as in everyday student life or in private settings.

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You have experienced sexual harassment at the university?

Here are suggestions what your next steps could be: Setzen Sie aktiv erste Schritte: Tipps für Betroffene 

Here is a list of Support Services that can help you navigate the situation.

  • Consultations are strictly confidential.
  • No measures will be taken without your consent.

You have witnessed sexual harassment or have been told about incidents of sexual harassment?

As an active bystander you can intervene safely and appropriately to support individuals experiencing discrimination: Tipps für Active Bystander

Teachers are often the first persons students confide in. Here are suggestions on how to navigate these conversations and how to handle difficult situations: Empfehlungen für Lehrende

Managers have specific duties and obligations, if they are made aware of incidents of sexual harassment. Detailed information and suggestions on how to navigate conversations HERE

Whatever your role may be, documenting incidents and conversations is always reccomended: Vorlage Gedächtnisprotokoll

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Case study

“Between professional duties and private communication channels”

Lisa, eine wissenschaftliche Projektmitarbeiterin, arbeitet befristet am Fachbereich XY.

Lisa, a research assistant, is working on a temporary contract in the XY department.

After organizing a joint course, the head of the department, Dr. M., repeatedly sends Lisa messages via WhatsApp outside of working hours (“Colleagues as dedicated as you are rare—shall we go for a drink tonight?”). At the same time, he makes comments about her appearance during team meetings. Lisa responds politely but distantly and redirects the conversation to the work at hand.

Late in the evening at a scientific conference (business trip), Dr. M. seeks Lisa’s company in the hotel lobby, sits down close to her, and “accidentally” touches her shoulder. When she clearly rejects him, he suggests that the extension of her fixed-term contract “also depends on team harmony.” Lisa leaves feeling unsettled.

In the following days, Dr. M. sends her messages in the evening, using heart emojis and making allusions to the conference weekend

Lisa documents the incidents, talks to a confidant, and informs the Working Group on Equal Opportunities (Arbeitskreis für Gleichbehandlungsfragen, AKG)

Boundary violations in the context of professional contact

  • Business trip/conference: advances, “accidental” touching
  • Allusions in the hotel lobby during a professional event → harassment in the work context
  • Messages to private numbers with a professional connection (hierarchy, contract extension, initiation at work) → Harassment in the work context, even if the channel is “private.”


Examples of private contact

  • Private meetings unrelated to work and without any power or dependency issues
  • Mutual, voluntary dating between employees of equal rank
  • No connection to performance reviews or contractual status

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Ressources 

 Grauzonen gibt es nicht (German)
Sara Hassan & Juliette Sanchez-Lambert
Is it still a flirt or is it already assault? That’s a gray area, no one can judge that! The book “Grauzonen gibt es nicht” (There Are No Gray Areas) dispels this myth. It describes the “Red Flag System”—an alarm system that detects sexual harassment early on, even in gray areas. The book draws on the collective experience of those affected and explains what happens when power is abused. It also gives victims and observers tools to recognize abuse early and take decisive actions.

Grenzen erkennen – benennen – setzen. (German)
Newly revised, amended, and updated edition. Working Group for Equal Treatment Issues at the University of Salzburg & Mozarteum University Salzburg (ed.). Salzburg 2024.

 Gender-based violence and its consequences in European Academia FIRST RESULTS FROM THE UNISAFE SURVEY  7. November 2022

Informationsmaterial und eine Übersicht über die rechtlichen Grundlagen bietet die  Gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft und die   Arbeiterkammer.