I never thought I would experience sexual harassment.

[bertha katzenengel]

Is this sexual harassment?

My cow-irker, who is becoming more irksome every day, claims to be a "when I used to be into men" lesbian. She talks frequently about her ex- who keeps texting her and "why is she doing this?" and "what does it mean" - y'know, with hope that there's still something there. It's extremely irritating. And this is the type of person you can't shut up no matter what you say.

She just rec'd a photo on her cell phone. It is an explicit sexual parts picture. She said "who is sending me this?" and "what is this about?" and laughing. She showed it to me without saying what she was showing me.

My stomach turned.

I said, "don't show me this." She kept chuckling that "wtf is this?" type of chuckle.

I don't know how to take this.

I'm not looking for ideas on how to handle this person. I just want opinions: do you think this is or is not harassment?

I'm not going to do anything about it unless I decide to have a come-to-Jesus meeting one on one. But if it happens again, Katy bar the door.

[KSinTX]

1. *don't show me this*

From that point on anything like it is harassment.

Edit: Learning about punctuation! Took out "" in subject.

[Dora]

2. It's inappropriate. You've made your feelings known and if it continues, it's harassment.

Sorry about your weird coworker. She sounds a little off-center, like she needs attention but doesn't know how to simply say, "How are you today?" and be friendly.

[Breeze54]

3. It sounds like she's trying to embarrass you... on purpose!

With all the 'laughing' and showing you explicit photo's without your knowledge or consent.

What a dip shit!

I think it may be harassment after you asked her not to do that and she is still doing it!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. i dont think its sexual harrassment, i think she thinks of you as a lesbian ally

who wants to know about her person life due to a shared sexual orientation.

you should tell her firmly that you are colleagues and not friends and that you really dont wish to discuss her personal life.

[livetohike]

5. If it makes you uncomfortable - it's harassment

What an annoying person. Work is hard enough without having to put up with that, too. :hug:

[huskerlaw]

6. Now that you've told her no

if she continues, it is harassment.

Prior to the picture incident, I would say that she probably saw you as an ally. Her behavior was still inappropriate in a work environment, but unless she's in a position of power over you or was forcing you into conversations that you weren't comfortable with (maliciously, not just because she's clueless), then I don't think it was harassment.

But once you tell someone the behavior isn't appreciated, any continuation of the behavior is harassment.

[TrogL]

7. This is inappropriate in an sort of work setting

Your office should have a sexual harassment policy posted.

It's time to invoke it.

[NJmaverick]

8. At best it could be considered borderline harassment

more like simple innappropriate behavior. Just tell her you don't appreciate being shown explicit pictures. That should pretty much solve the issue.

[crimsonblue]

9. If this were a male showing this to a woman, it would be sexual harassment

in my eyes, there is nothing different about a woman showing another woman. Time to talk to HR.

[TZ]

10. Its harrassment if you tell her to stop and she doesn't

If it makes you uncomfortable thats creating a hostile work environment. Harrassment is MORE than just quid pro quo. This is definitely going there. Talk to HR.

[yellowcanine]

11. Write her a letter on company letter head. Tell her your objections. Date and sign it.

In the letter tell her that any repetition of the objectionable behavior will trigger a complaint to a supervisor by you. And then follow through if she doesn't knock it off. If you don't do this it will only get worse. She knows exactly what she is doing. Do not get violent with her. That may be what she wants and she will use it against you.

[LeftyMom]

12. She's shown you sexually explicit pictures at work

That's HIGHLY inappropriate. I would go ahead and report the situation now, rather than wait for another problem, because she shouldn't need a warning to know that's not acceptable workplace behavior.