Most people don’t think sexual harassment will happen to us. And if it does, we downplay it.
It wasn’t that bad.
It’s over and I’m fine.
That wasn’t “real” harassment.
But the truth is, harassment happens all the time. Especially if you’re a woman or a queer person between the ages of 18 and 34. If that’s you, you’re at high risk.
Why preparation matters
Harassment isn’t usually one big event. It’s more like a slow drip. You never felt exactly welcome, then things start getting really icy. People have always been a little too curious about your dating life, and that starts to slide into being outright invasive. That friendly coworker .. turns out to be a little too friendly.
It can be confusing, and hard to be sure about. But it’s real and it adds up—over time, it can really hurt your mental health, your career, and your finances.
Research shows that people who plan ahead for difficult situations—by thinking about what they might do or say, ahead of time—usually feel better about how they end up handling them. They feel more in control. They are happier, afterward, with what they said or did.
Preparation can help you protect yourself.
What preparation looks like
We made this website to help you get ready.
- Learn why we react to harassment the way we do
- Learn why we blame ourselves
- Learn how whisper networks can help you keep safe
- Learn how to tell if what you’re experiencing is sexual harassment
- Learn how the law in Canada determines if you’ve been harassed
- Learn your options for how to handle harassment
- Learn the secret your employer doesn’t want you to know
- Learn how to protect your career
- Learn how to protect yourself financially
- Learn 20 ways to take care of your mental health
You’re not alone
The most important thing to know is that you’re not alone. Nearly everyone experiences some form of workplace harassment or discrimination at some point. It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. And it doesn’t mean you have to deal with it by yourself.