I need help starting my paper. Should I start with "would this situation constitute a case of sexual harassment?" and then work my way down?
You are a sergeant with the local police department’s patrol division. During your shift a female officer asks if she can speak in private with you about a sensitive subject. You reply yes, and then go into your office, where the female officer begins to relay to you the results of a recent conversation that she had recently with another fellow female officer regarding inappropriate sexual advances that a male police officer had made to her while in the roll call area. You learn that this is not the first time that this male officer has made sexual comments to this same female officer. You also discover that this comment was possibly overheard by several other officers who were in attendance in the roll call room. You also are advised by the female officer who came to you with this information that she is fairly sure that the female officer that was the target of this unwarranted comment was afraid to complain to you, as she was afraid of retaliation by other officers on the shift for being a “tattletale”. Supported by outside literature research and your text readings, would this situation constitute a case of sexual harassment? As a supervisor in this situation what should your response be after hearing of this reported case of sexual harassment? In the past, under what situations have the courts given guidelines as to what must occur before an individual can prove a sexual harassment case? If the case is not investigated can the supervisor also be charged for failure to take action by the courts? What specific federal laws or guidelines apply in sexual harassment cases? Support your viewpoints from your readings and other appropriate outside sources.
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I recommend you start the paper with the definition of sexual harrassment, and the elements of the crime, then try to match those to what happened.
Was there a complaint?
What are the requirements of a supervisor when he/she "hears" a rumor?
To start your paper, it would be helpful to introduce the situation you described and provide context for the reader. You can summarize the scenario and mention that you will be analyzing whether this situation constitutes a case of sexual harassment.
When analyzing whether this situation constitutes a case of sexual harassment, it is important to follow a structured approach. Here's a suggested outline to help you organize your thoughts and answer the key questions you mentioned:
1. Introduction:
- Introduce the scenario and provide background information.
- Mention that the purpose of the paper is to assess if the situation constitutes a case of sexual harassment.
- Provide a brief overview of the questions you will address and the approach you will take.
2. Definition of sexual harassment:
- Begin by explaining the definition of sexual harassment.
- Reference your text readings and relevant literature to define sexual harassment legally and in the workplace context.
- Clarify the elements or criteria that must be met for a situation to be considered sexual harassment.
3. Analysis of the situation:
- Evaluate the situation in light of the definition and criteria of sexual harassment.
- Assess whether the behavior described in the scenario meets the threshold for sexual harassment.
- Consider factors such as the nature and frequency of the inappropriate comments, the impact on the female officer, and the potential for a hostile work environment.
4. Supervisory response:
- Discuss what the supervisor's responsibility should be after receiving a report of sexual harassment.
- Explore best practices for handling such cases, including confidentiality and protection against retaliation.
- Reference relevant literature and guidelines to support your analysis.
5. Court guidelines and legal requirements:
- Examine past court cases that have established guidelines for proving sexual harassment.
- Discuss the elements that must be proven to successfully pursue a sexual harassment case.
- Reference specific court decisions and legal precedents to strengthen your argument.
6. Accountability of the supervisor:
- Analyze whether the supervisor could be charged for failure to take action if the case is not properly investigated.
- Discuss legal obligations and potential implications for supervisors who neglect their duties in addressing sexual harassment.
7. Federal laws and guidelines:
- Identify and discuss the specific federal laws that apply to sexual harassment cases, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
- Explain how these laws provide protection against sexual harassment in the workplace.
- Support your viewpoints with references to federal regulations, laws, and guidelines.
8. Conclusion:
- Recap your analysis of whether the situation constitutes a case of sexual harassment.
- Summarize the supervisor's appropriate response and legal obligations.
- Highlight the significance of addressing and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace.
Remember to conduct thorough research and cite credible sources to support your arguments throughout the paper. Good luck with your paper!