9. Appendix A – Gender-based harmful behaviours

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, unwelcome request for sexual favours or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, in circumstances in which a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances, would anticipate the possibility that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated or intimidated.

Sex- or gender-based harassment

Sex- or gender-based harassment is any unwelcome conduct of an offensive or demeaning nature by reason of the person's gender, sex, or sexuality, in circumstances in which a reasonable person would have anticipated the possibility that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated or intimidated.

Hostile working environments

A hostile work environment is an environment that is offensive, intimidating or humiliating to a person because of their sex or characteristics linked to their sex.[2]

Discrimination

Discrimination happens when a person, or a group of people, is treated less favourably than another person or group because of their background or certain personal characteristics. This can include direct or indirect discrimination on the basis of sex, gender or sexuality.

Gendered violence

Gendered violence is a broad term that captures any behaviour directed at any person or that affects a person because of their sex, gender or sexuality, or because they do not adhere to socially prescribed gender roles. For example, this includes violence targeted at someone because they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer or asexual (LGBTQIA+).

Socially prescribed gender roles are society’s traditional ideas about how men and women should look or act, what characteristics they should have, or their roles in the workplace, home or public life.

Misgendering or deadnaming

Purposely misgendering, focusing on a person’s birth-assigned sex or purposely deadnaming a person (deadnaming means using a person’s former name without their consent) can be a form of discrimination or harassment if it is done in a manner that indicates hostility.

Intersectional harassment

Intersectional harassment is when someone experiences harassment or discrimination based on multiple aspects of their identity, such as their race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or social class.