Responding to Sexual Harassment: A Guide for Young Women

Do’s for Handling Sexual Harassment

1. Trust your instincts – If something feels wrong or uncomfortable, your feelings are valid

2. Set clear boundaries – Say “no” firmly and directly when possible

3. Document incidents – Keep records of what happened, when, where, and who was present

4. Seek support – Talk to someone you trust like a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend. Protect yourself.

5. Report serious incidents – Follow proper reporting procedures at school, work, or to authorities

6. Know your rights – Familiarize yourself with policies at school or work about harassment

Don’ts When Facing Harassment

1. Don’t blame yourself – Harassment is never your fault, regardless of what you wore or said

2. Don’t stay silent out of fear – While scary, reporting helps protect you and others

3. Don’t engage with the harasser – If safe to do so, remove yourself from the situation

4. Don’t delete evidence – Save messages, emails, or other proof of harassment

5. Don’t isolate yourself – Reach out to supportive people rather than dealing with it alone

If You Witness Harassment

1. Check in with the person being harassed – Ask if they’re okay or need help

2. Speak up when safe – Say something like “That’s not appropriate” or “That makes people uncomfortable”

3. Distract and redirect – Create an interruption to diffuse the situation immediately

4. Document what you saw Report what you witnessed

   
   

Why People Hesitate to Report

1.      Fear of not being believed

2.      Worry about retaliation or making the situation worse

3.      Embarrassment or shame

4.      Concern about being labeled a “troublemaker”

5.      Uncertainty about whether the behavior was “bad enough” to report

6.      Lack of knowledge about reporting procedures

7.      Fear of disrupting relationships or dynamics at school/work

8.      Previous negative experiences with reporting

Why Reporting Matters

1. It creates a formal record of the behavior and validates that harassment is unacceptable and not to be tolerated

2. It can prevent the harasser from targeting others and holds harassers accountable for their actions

3. It helps institutions identify patterns of problematic behavior and lead to policy changes that create safer environments

4. It empowers you to take control of the situation

Recognizing Misuse of Reporting Systems - Misuses are rare but damage credibility for legitimate reports. Always be truthful and accurate when reporting.

1.      Making false accusations for personal gain or revenge

2.      Misusing the platform to target someone unfairly

3.      Exaggerating or distorting events