Quick Facts
- Key People:
- Catharine A. MacKinnon
- Anita Hill
- Related Topics:
- Labour law
- Online predator
- sexism
- misogyny
- sexual offense
- On the Web:
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - Sexual Harassment and Prevention Training (Oct. 30, 2026)
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sexual harassment
law
sexual harassment in the 21st centuryPossible reasons why sexual harassment is still happening in the 21st century.
See all videos for this articlesexual harassment, unsolicited verbal or physical behaviour of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment may embrace any sexually motivated behaviour considered offensive by the recipient. Legal recourse is available in cases that occur in the workplace, though it is very difficult to obtain convictions. In 1994 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that behaviour can be considered sexual harassment and an abridgment of an individual’s civil rights if it creates a hostile and abusive working environment.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Barbara A. Schreiber.


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