Which statement best describes the relationship between sexual harassment and discrimination?

• A. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination based on sex.
• B. They are unrelated issues.
• C. Discrimination is a form of harassment.
• D. Harassment only occurs in non-work settings.

Answer: (A)

Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination based on sex. In employment law, protections against discrimination include treating someone unfavorably because of their sex, and sexual harassment is how bias based on sex can manifest in the workplace. When conduct of a sexual nature is unwelcome and creates a hostile environment or conditions employment on submission to or rejection of sexual advances, it illustrates sex discrimination in action. So, recognizing sexual harassment as a type of discrimination helps explain why it’s not just inappropriate behavior but a protected, unlawful form of bias. The other statements aren’t accurate: harassment is not unrelated to discrimination; discrimination isn’t simply a form of harassment (though they can co-exist); and harassment can and does occur in work settings.