What is work-related gendered violence?

Background

Work-related gendered violence is any behaviour, directed at any person, or that affects a person, because of their sex, gender or sexual orientation, or because they do not adhere to socially prescribed gender roles, that creates a risk to health and safety.

This includes violence targeted directly at someone specifically because, for example:

• they are a woman
• they identify as LGBTIQA+
• they don't follow socially prescribed gender roles and stereotypes

Work-related gendered violence can also be experienced indirectly. A person may experience gendered violence not targeted specifically at them (such as overhearing a conversation that affects them) or witness violence directed at someone else. Sexual harassment is a common form of gendered violence.

Types of work-related gendered violence can range in severity from comments and gestures, through to sexual assault and rape. It can include:

• stalking, intimidation or threats
• verbal abuse
• ostracism or exclusion
• sexually explicit gestures
• offensive language and imagery
• put downs, innuendo, and insinuations
• being undermined in your role or position
• sexual harassment (see below)
• sexual assault or rape

What is sexual harassment?

As outlined in Section 92(1) of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (EO Act), a person sexually harasses another person if he or she:

(a) makes an unwelcome sexual advance, or an unwelcome request for sexual favours, to the other person,

 or 

(b) engages in any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in relation to the other person

in circumstances in which a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances, would have anticipated that the other person would be offended, humiliated or intimidated.

Work-related sexual harassment

Work-related sexual harassment is sexual harassment (as described above) directed at a person, that can happen at work, work related events, or between people sharing the same workplace.

Work-related sexual harassment isn't always obvious, repeated or continuous. It can be a one-off incident and can involve unwanted or unwelcome:

• touching
• staring or leering
• suggestive comments or jokes
• sexually explicit pictures or posters
• repeated invitations to go out on dates
• requests for sex
• intrusive questions about a person's private life or body
• unnecessary contact, such as deliberately brushing up against a person
• insults or taunts based on sex or gender
• sexually explicit physical contact
• sexually explicit emails, text messages or social media activity

Sexual harassment is a common and known cause of physical and mental injury.