Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that occur in the workplace or on campus.

Governmental agencies charged with enforcing laws against discrimination (such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the US Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, and the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SHAC), may take action against an employer or educational institution whose employees or students engage in sexual harassment.

An employer or institution may be sued for damages (monetary relief) by a person who claims to be the victim of sexual harassment. The damage awards courts make in sexual harassment lawsuits can be large--sometimes in excess of one million dollars.

Most judges and legal experts agree that the goal of laws against sexual harassment is to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex.

Remember: sexual harassment is a form of illegal sex discrimination.

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