Happy April everyone! This is a month of happiness with Easter, spring cleaning, end of cuffing season (now everyone’s in love), and summer fast approaching. On a more somber note, I bet you didn’t know April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month which is an annual campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault and how to prevent sexual violence.

Sexual harassment can lead to assault and often times gets forgotten about. The victims hesitate to report it for fear of not being believed or treated as though they are overreacting. Harassment can present itself in many forms and in many different scenarios, but one thing remains the same- it leaves the victim feeling violated and without peace.

You never have the right to take away another person’s peace of mind or become some kind of obstacle in their life.

So, what counts as harassment? Have you ever wondered if something you said was sexual harassment? To be honest, if you have to ask, you probably already know the answer.

Commenting that a woman’s body looks good in their outfit/uniform/etc.

Cat-calling.

Calling someone ugly, beautiful, using pet names- especially in a professional setting.

Talking about a woman behind her back (i.e. locker room talk) and all the sexual things you would or would not do with her.

Slut-shaming. Or prude-shaming. Any sort of sexuality shaming.

Asking for sexual favors, making unwanted advances, unwanted touching.

Stalking, following, exposing yourself, threatening.

Making someone feel uncomfortable in any way due to their gender, sexuality, how they look, etc.