What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is any psychological, physical or verbal conduct with a sexual connotation that is perceived by the person concerned as transgressive, unpleasant and unwanted or is intended to have this effect.
Sexual harassment is prohibited as a form of unlawful discrimination by the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) §3. Sexual harassment has nothing to do with sexuality as a fundamentally positive event. Perpetrators use sexually connoted and sexually charged statements and actions to exercise power and superiority. It does not matter whether the person causing the harassment intended it.
When a boundary is crossed is subjective and depends on the perspective of the person concerned. The following questions can serve as a guide for individual assessment:
- Was the behaviour of the person causing the harassment unwanted?
- Is the behaviour unilateral on the part of the person causing the harassment?
- Do I feel uncomfortable or devalued because of the behaviour?
- Have I been promised advantages if the behaviour was accommodating?
- Have I been threatened with disadvantages if I refuse?
If you answer “yes” to one of the questions after experiencing a situation or are unsure about it, please contact the helpdesk. We can advise you anonymously via the chat function of the online portal. You can also opt for a personal meeting at any time.
Further information, assistance and materials on sexual harassment (at universities) can also be found via the following links:
Handout bukof "Sexualised Discrimination and Violence at Universities" [in German]
Handout from the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace" [in German]
Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency Research Project "Sexual Harassment in the University Context" [in German]
If you would like to report a case of discrimination, please contact the Anti-Discrimination helpdesk.
