What is Harassment?
Harassment refers to any single or repeated incident of objectionable or unwelcome conduct, comment, bullying, or action by a person that the individual knows or ought to reasonably know will cause offense or humiliation, or adversely affect the individuals health and safety.
Harassment is considered the starting point to different types of abuse, similar to stalking, and can take many different forms. Listed below are a few of the common types of harassment that individuals may experience.
Physical harassment hypically involve threats or physical attacks against an individual, and can be deemed an assault if they go to extremes. Some examples of physical harassment include:
- Threats of danger that are made openly
- Shoving, hitting, and kicking
- Threatening actions, such as violently shaking fists
- Destruction of an individual's property as a form of intimidation
Discriminatory harassment is a type of harassment that is motivated by an individual's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnicity, age, disability, or any other protected status. This type of harassment is more abut the aim, or goal of the harassment, rather than how the harassment is carried out, such as verbal or physical harassment. Some common types of discriminatory harassment include, but are not limited to:
- Racial Harassment - Racial harassment, or racism, is when the unwelcome behaviours are related to race-based grounds, where an individual is treated unfairly because of their perceived race, colour, ancestry, place or origin, ethnic origin, or citizenship. Examples include racial insults, slurs, or jokes, disgust, or disparaging remarks.
- Gender Harassment - Gender harassment is a form of gender discrimination. A common example of gender harassment is negative gender stereotypes regarding how women and men should act according to their gender roles.
- Religious Harassment - Religious harassment is similar to racial harassment, but focuses specifically on an individual's religious beliefs. Some examples of this include the intolerance of religious holidays, traditions, and rules, pressure to convert to another religion, and offensive religious jokes.
- Disability-Based Harassment - Thi stype of harassment is aimed towards individuals who have a disability, are related to someone who has a disaability, or utilizes disability services. Some examples of this can include teasing, the redusal to accommodate the individual, or patronizing comments toward the individual.
Online harassment, commonly referred to as cyberbullying, is becoming a more common form of harassment with the increase use of the internet and social networking sites. This type of harassment can be anonymous, or can be deliveded by an individual who uses an alternate name online to keep their identity private. Online harassment can involve behaviours such as, but not limited to:
- Sending unsolicited or threatening e-mails
- Making defamatory comments about an individual online
- Harassing an individual during a live chat
- Leaving abusive messages online or on social media sites
- Crating content that depicts an individual in a negative way
- Sending an individual graphic materials that are known to be offensive
The MRU Personal Harassment Policy
The intent of this policy is to support the commitment made by MRU to create a supportive working and learning environment that is free from personal harassment.
The MRU Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Policy
The intent of this policy is to contribute to a fostering a safe, healthy, and inclusive workplace, and expresses the University's commitment to a workplace that is free of violence and harassment.