Sexual harassment.--Sexual harassment is any unwanted sexual advance or demand, either verbal or physical, which is perceived by the recipient as demeaning, intimidating or coercive. Sexual harassment must be understood as an exploitation of a power relationship rather than as an exclusively sexual issue. Sexual harassment also includes the creation of a hostile or abusive working environment resulting from discrimination on the basis of gender.
Sexual harassment creates improper, coercive, and abusive conditions wherever it occurs in society. Sexual harassment undermines the social goal of equal opportunity and the climate of mutual respect between men and women. Unwanted sexual attention is wrong and discriminatory. Sexual harassment interferes with the moral mission of the church.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 20848-CS-71-D
1996 United Methodist General Conference