9to5 Featured in Cosmo

Last month we all watched Herman Cain’s political campaign get derailed because of sexual harassment allegations. Though Cain denied the accusations, the bad publicity caused his popularity to plummet, forcing him to end his run to become the next U.S. president. The fact is, sexual harassment can be murky, just as the she-said-he-said of the Cain case showed. The men often claim that what the women are alleging didn’t happen. That’s because sexual harassment doesn’t always entail overt sexual advances. More often, it’s subtle things such as a superior or coworker giving off a sleazy vibe when he (or she) talks to you. Sometimes it may not be considered by others as sinister—like, if there’s an office culture where telling sexual jokes is common. And sometimes the case may be that a woman or women in your office are sexually involved with men who hold superior positions, which can make you feel like the only way for you to get promoted is to “sleep your way to the top.” All of these instances create a hostile work environment and if you’re experiencing any of it, you have a right to speak up.

Read more: How To Prevent Sexual Harassment - Dealing With Sexual Harassment - Cosmopolitan