Sexual Harassment

In 1991, a Florida federal judge ruled that pictures of naked and scantily clad women displayed in a workplace qualified as sexual harassment under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In his written opinion, the judge said that such a “boys’ club” atmosphere is “no less destructive to workplace equality than a sign declaring ‘Men Only.’” At the same time, the Florida branch of the American Civil Liberties Union denounced the decision as a possible violation of free speech. Under the federal court ruling, the company involved had to institute an anti-harassment policy and take down the photos. In your opinion, what was the right decision in this situation? When does joking around in the workplace become harassment? Have you ever looked back on a situation that you later felt constituted sexual harassment?

Greenberg, J. S., Bruess, C. E., & Haffner, D. (2000). Exploring the dimensions of human sexuality. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett.