?Sexual Harassment at College Level-An Ongoing Gender Issue?: An Assessment on Some Colleges of Purba Medinipur under Vidysagar University

The concept of sexual harassment, in its modern understanding, is a relatively new one, dating from the 1970s onwards, although other related concepts have existed prior to this in many cultures. Sexual Harassment means behavior, including physical contact, advances, and comments in person, through an intermediary, and/or via phone, text message, email, social media, or other electronic medium, that is unwelcome, based on sex or gender stereotypes, and is so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with a persons academic performance, employment or equal opportunity to participate in or benefit from college or University programs or activities or by creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment. Students at academic institutions often sexually harass others by calling them fag, homo, Hey, babe, Hot stuff, or Big stud or other degrading terms that refer to sexual orientation. Additional types of sexual harassment include students starting or spreading sexual rumors, writing sexual graffiti on bathroom walls, sending crude e-mails or letters, and displaying sexual drawings or pornography. A person in a position of power may request sexual favors in return for a starting position on a college team, a higher grade, or access to a popular club or peer group. Individuals who experience sexual harassment feel fearful, intimidated, manipulated, and overpowered. Almost 60-70 % of students in surveyed colleges report experiencing sexual harassment directly or indirectly. At the elementary college level it is exhibited differently and thus it may be overlooked. In fact, sexual harassment has become so commonplace that many accept it as something everyone puts up with. However, sexual harassment is unacceptable, causing personal pain and embarrassment, creating a negative academic environment, and feeding into more violent behaviors. It is important for teachers, parents, and students to gain an understanding of what sexual harassment actually is, how to respond to it, and how to prevent it.