Counselling on sexual harassment and discrimination
We want to create a culture of respectful coexistence free from any form of discrimination. Harmful or inappropriate behavior as well as abuse of power are not acceptable. The Equal Opportunities Officers offer a confidential approach to handling all types of complaints. Every affected person can decide for themselves whether and to what extent we, as equal opportunities officers, should take action. In addition, there are further contact points and counseling services available, from the Institute, the Max Planck Society and also from completely external providers.
What is sexual harassment?
Sexualised harassment can manifest itself in verbal, non-verbal and physical forms. It is not decisive whether the harassing person had the intention to harass. The decisive factor is whether a certain behaviour is objectively sexual in nature and whether the person concerned felt harassed as a result. Subtle forms of harassment are often not recognised, although they can have serious consequences for those affected.
Sexualised harassment can be carried out in different ways, for example:
Verbal
Sexual jokes, remarks, or comments
Hurtful or insulting comments about clothing, appearance, or private life
Non-verbal
Whistling at someone
Staring in an intrusive or intimidating way, or giving sexual looks
Unwanted emails, text messages, messenger messages, memes, photos, or videos with sexual content
Hanging up or sharing pornographic material
Showing one’s own nudity
Physical
Any unwanted touching, even if it seems accidental
Repeatedly coming too close or pressing against someone
Ignoring normal personal space (about one arm’s length)
Unwanted physical contact, like massaging, stroking, kissing, or hugging
Everyone decides for themselves when their personal limit has been crossed. It does not matter if the other person did not mean it as harassment, or if the behavior was not clearly named or rejected. Only the affected person can say what feels like a sexual boundary violation to them.
A study from the German Anti-Discrimination Agency (2019) shows that women (13%) experience sexual harassment more often than men (5%). But of course, the above applies to every person, no matter their sexual identity.
What is the difference between harassment and flirting?
Sexual harassment is often downplayed. Affected people are sometimes told they are too sensitive to a joke or a flirt. But flirting has nothing to do with harassment. Flirting only happens when both people agree and usually makes everyone feel good. Harassment, however, happens without the consent of at least one person.
Can I no longer hug colleagues?
Of course, colleagues can touch or hug each other – if everyone agrees. When in doubt, it’s best to ask before giving a hug. Please remember: a NO must always be respected.
Can I no longer give compliments?
It depends on the situation, the tone of voice, the body language, and the words you use. For example: saying “That’s a nice blouse, it really suits you” is usually fine. But if there is a sexual undertone, if you stare at woman’s breasts, or something similar, then it is no longer a compliment. It becomes inappropriate and counts as harassment.
What can each of us do?
Protection from sexual harassment concerns all of us. Everyone at the institute can help protect those affected.
Set boundaries actively:
As someone affected, as a supervisor, or as a colleague, you can set clear boundaries and help stop unwanted behavior directly. Say a clear “No” if you feel harassed or if you see inappropriate behavior.
If you are not able to react immediately: you can still address the person later. Complaints afterwards are just as valid.
Pay attention, speak up, listen:
Take care of each other and do not look away if a colleague or a supervisor is being harassed, or if someone is crossing boundaries themselves. There is no tolerance for such behavior.
If you see harassment, address the people involved. Possible questions could be:
“How did you mean that comment…?”
“How did you experience the situation?”
How do I recognise misconduct and what can I do?
The Max Planck Society offers an online course on how to recognize and address misconduct. You can find it in the training center of the Planck Academy.