sexual harassment
NAVA's Resource Guide for Safe Workspaces
Sexual Harassment resource guide
Guidelines and Resources
Some good rules to follow
Don’t comment on someone’s appearance.
Even if you believe you are giving a compliment, comments about appearance can make someone feel uncomfortable.
Be especially aware when alcohol is involved.
Alcohol makes people lose their inhibitions and may lead to more unwanted behavior.
If you wouldn’t say something in front of a large, diverse group of people, it’s best not to say it at all.
Consent should be conscious and enthusiastic.
When in doubt, just don’t do it.
If you make a mistake, don’t take it personally.
Apologize, learn, grow, and move on to more pleasant interactions.
01
What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment includes unwanted sexual advances, sexual behaviors, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment begins with unwelcome behavior. This can be an offhand comment, an unwelcome touch, and other words and actions that may be interpreted as being sexual in nature.Â
Key Point: It’s not about what the speaker intended, but how the receiver feels.
Some examples of unwelcome behavior:
- A joke that seems funny to one person but may be offensive to another
- Physical contact, like a hug, that is too close, or lasts too long
- Comments about a person’s appearance that may be perceived as flirtatious in nature.
02
What can sexual harassment look like in a professional setting?
Sexual harassment can be perpetrated by anyone, including other actors, coaches, audio engineers, casting directors, agents, organizers, and other colleagues.
Some forms of sexual harassment in a professional setting include:
- Overt flirting during a professional exchange like a coaching, session, class.
- The promise (or perceived promise) of employment as a result of engaging in sexual behavior.
- Jokes or banter of a sexual nature while in a professional setting.Â
- Unwanted touching or physical contact.
- Unwelcome sexual advances.
- Discussing sexual relations/stories/fantasies at work or in other inappropriate places.
- Feeling pressured to engage romantically with someone outside of work.
Key Point: If you are in a professional setting, keep it strictly professional. Talk about the work you are doing and stay on task.
03
What can sexual harassment look like outside the studio?
Sexual harassment can happen at any time. At an in-person conference or voiceover event, in a facebook group, on a Zoom call, after a class, and more.
Some examples of sexual harassment outside the booth:
- Unwanted flirting via message or phone call
- Comments or direct messages of a sexual nature related to photos of you posted online.
- Unwanted touching or physical contact.
- Unwelcome sexual advances in person or online.
How to address sexual harassment
01
What to do if you feel uncomfortable
If you are feeling uncomfortable because of the actions of another person or group of people, here are some steps you can take:
- Talk about it early. Telling the person who made you feel uncomfortable that they acted inappropriately is often the easiest way to stop future bad behavior.
- Tell someone you trust what happened. Explain why it made you feel uncomfortable. Telling them in person or on the phone is great, but documenting it with a text or email can be better in case the behavior continues.
- Tell someone in charge. If you experience unwanted behavior, telling someone in charge can go a long way. In a voiceover job you could tell a director, producer, or engineer. If you’re at a conference or event, talk to the organizer of that event.Â
- Enlist a friend for support. Telling a friend to look for signs that you need help if you’re interacting with a person who makes you feel uncomfortable. Sometimes they can help remove you from a bad situation.
- Tip: Create a safe word. Having a safe word with your friends can help them determine when you really need support.
- Be direct whenever possible. This can feel difficult to do, but being direct about what you are ok with is a good way to stop their behavior.
02
What can I do when I witness sexual harassment?
Stepping in if you witness sexual harassment occurring can be incredibly helpful. But always be cautious when intervening. You want to keep the victim, and yourself as safe as possible.
Here are some steps you can take if you witness sexual harassment from RAINN, the nations largest anti-sexual assault organization.Â
- Create a distraction. Do what you can to interrupt the harassment, or distract those taking part in the harassment. But remember to make sure that you aren’t putting yourself in danger by doing this. If someone seems like they could become violent, do not draw their attention.
- Ask directly. Talk directly with the person who is being harassed. If they are being harassed at work or school, offer to accompany them anytime they have to meet with the harasser. If a friend is worried about walking alone to their car at night, offer to walk with them.
- Refer to an authority. The safest way to intervene for both you and the person being harassed may be to bring in an authority figure. You can talk to another employee, security guard, RA in your dorm, bartender, or bouncer, and they will often be willing to step in.
- Enlist others. It can be hard to step in alone, especially if you are worried about your own safety or if you don’t think you will be able to help on your own. It may be a good idea to enlist the help of a friend or another bystander.
US law prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace. Contact the police if you feel you need to.
Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired).
sexual harassment
additional resources
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
As a coalition of experienced performers, the Professional Audiobook Narrators Association believes that narrators can expect certain standards of collaboration from their co-narrators.