Sexual Harassment, Quid Pro Quo

When harassment involves the exchange of sexual favors in exchange for desired benefits, it is typically referred to as “quid pro quo,” literally, “this for that” [Page 756]sexual harassment. Quid pro quo harassment implies a power relationship between harassers and victims. Usually, quid pro quo harassment involves employees and supervisors, but the term may also be applied to students in educational settings who are involved with teachers or other staff members such as coaches. As an example in a school setting, it could be that a teacher, acting as harasser, awards a grade to a student on the provision that the victim grant sexual favors. Nonetheless, educational decisions based on the acquiescence to sexual demands may have alternate twists. For example, teachers may offer to ...