In a recent case from New York, a hotel executive claimed she faced retaliation and harassment from supervisors and coworkers after she filed a complaint against a senior member of her company kissed her without her consent in a bar. In her claim, she states that she was blamed for causing the original incident to occur and was a victim of “slut shaming,”- behavior that places an unequal burden on women for the negative fallout from their romantic or sexual lives. The executive, who is still employed with her company, is seeking an undisclosed amount of compensation for her damages.
Employees have the right to work without fear of sexual harassment or retaliation for exercising their right to file complaints about any harassment or other type of discrimination they face. Individuals who encounter sexual harassment or retaliation in their workplaces can file claims with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that enforces existing employment laws and investigates cases of alleged employment law violations.
What is Slut Shaming?
In the executive’s case discussed above, the claimed that she faced harassment from higher-ups about her behavior in the form of strict scrutiny about her personal life. One incident mentioned in the case is that of a colleague citing a photo of the executive kissing a coworker on the cheek and claiming that she “engages in sexually compromising behavior involving alcohol.”
In its most basic sense, slut shaming is a form of sexual harassment that involves stigmatizing an individual or group, generally women and girls, for engaging in sexual behavior without applying the same stigma to other groups that engage in the same behaviors. In the case discussed above, the executive claims that only she faced such harassment even though she was the one who was kissed without consent and received numerous lewd text messages from the colleague afterward.
Sexual Harassment Victims’ Rights
Slut shaming is just one form of sexual harassment an employee can face. Other types of sexual harassment include:
- Unwanted physical contact
- Invasive questions about one’s relationship, preferences, and experiences
- Exposure to sexually explicit imagery or conversation
- Crude remarks about an individual’s appearance, actual or perceived lifestyle, and relationship
Sexual harassment can happen to an individual of any gender. It can also be committed by an individual of any gender – women can, and do, commit sexual harassment and it is possible for a victim to be the same gender as their harasser. All sexual harassment victims have the right to file harassment claims with the EEOC to seek compensation for their damages that result from the harassment, which can be substantial. Sexual harassment in the workplace negatively impacts workers’ mental and physical health, leading to more days out of the office; and can keep an individual from promotions, bonuses, and other career opportunities.
Delaware County Sexual Harassment Lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates Help Victims Seek Compensation for their Damages
If you have faced harassment, retaliation, or any other type of mistreatment in your workplace, you have the right to file a claim with the EEOC to have your case investigated. To learn more, complete our online contact form or call 215-569-1999 to arrange your initial consultation with a Delaware County sexual harassment lawyer at The Gold Law Firm P.C. Our office is located in Philadelphia and we work with clients from Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
