The Melbourne University Student Union and the University of Melbourne have sexual harassment policies that cover both students and staff. These are bound by the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.
What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is behaviour that is unwelcome and unreciprocated. It can be directed to both women and men—in either case it is totally unacceptable.
Sexual harassment can include:
- propositioning
- touching
- leering
- comments on how a person looks or is dressed
- comments on a person’s sex life or sexuality
- sexual jokes or anecdotes
- physical, sexual, verbal or emotional assault
- displays of pornography
- wolf whistles and cat calls
What can you do about it?
Sexual harassment is threatening. People often choose to remain silent in the face of offensive sexual behaviour for fear of retribution by their harasser. This only perpetuates the problem. If you feel you have been harassed:
- don’t ignore it;
- don’t feel guilty;
- tell the harasser to stop; and
- consult a sexual harassment adviser in confidence.
There is a network of sexual harassment advisers in the Student Union and the University. You can consult these people in confidence. They can advise you of your rights, strategies you can use, what your next step might be and provide support. If you want to talk to somebody about any uncomfortable experience that may or may not have been sexually harassing, you can contact:
- University Adviser Phoebe Churches at the Student Union Advocacy Service: 8344 6546
- University Equal Opportunity Unit: 8344 4438
- or the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission: 9281 1711
Further information can also be found at the University of Melbourne website
Posted Tuesday 5 February, 2008
