How, Exactly, Does Sexual Harassment Violate The Law?

On July 2 1964, after lengthy consideration and debate, the US Congress passed the landmark Civil Rights Act. Within hours, President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill into law. In addition to outlawing segregation in public places such as hotels and restaurants, the Civil Rights Act banned employment discrimination that is based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The act also created a new federal agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC. The EEOC was given the power to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws and to advocate for workers who experience workplace discrimination.

According to the EEOC, sexual harassment is a form of workplace discrimination that is based on sex. Because workplace discrimination based on sex was banned by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, sexual harassment is illegal.