What is Sex Discrimination?

Occurs when an individual in a position of authority explicitly or implicitly conditions an educational aid, benefit, or service on a person's participation in unwelcome conduct.

This form of sexual or sex-based harassment involves an abuse of authority and is considered unwelcome, even if the other individual agrees to the conduct or does not resist or object to it​

Unwelcome sexual or sex-based conduct that is subjectively and objectively offensive and so severe or pervasive, that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the institution's education program or activity

Determinations on whether conduct is unwelcome, offensive, severe, and/or pervasive is based on the totality of the circumstances, including but not limited to the ages or roles of the parties involved and the type, frequency, and duration of the conduct involved.

A single serious incident, even if not pervasive, may create a hostile environment, and pervasive conduct, even if no single occurrence is severe, may also create a hostile environment.

A type of quid pro quo and/or hostile environment sexual or sex-based harassment, which includes sexual assaults, dating/domestic violence, and stalking.

As there are many types of sexual violence and harassment, additional types and specific policy definitions are outlined in the dropdown menu below.

Acts of physical violence, bodily injury, assault, the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, sexual assault, or stalking committed by a person, who is or has been, in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature against another person in that relationship.

Existence of such a relationships are determined based on the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.

Also known as: 

• Relationship Violence
• Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Acts of physical violence, bodily injury, assault, the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, sexual assault, coercive control, damage or destruction of personal property, or any other conduct prohibited under RCW 10.99.020, which is committed by a family or household member against another family or household member or an intimate partner against another intimate partner.

Intimate partners include current or former spouses or domestic partners, those in a dating relationship who currently reside or have resided together, as well as people with a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time.

Also known as: 

• Relationship Violence
• Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Any actual or attempted sexual touching, however slight, with any body part or object, by a person upon another person that is without consent and/or by force.

Sexual touching includes any bodily contact with the breasts, groin, mouth, or other bodily orifice of another individual, or any other bodily contact in a sexual manner.

Also known as: 

• Fondling
• Sexual Assault

Any sexual intercourse (anal, oral, or vaginal), however slight, with any object, by a person upon another person, that is without consent and/or by force.

This includes penetration by a penis, tongue, finger, or object, or oral copulation by mouth to genital contact or genital to mouth contact.

Also known as: 

• Rape
• Sexual Assault

Taking sexual advantage of another, without consent, for the gratification of oneself or any third person(s).

The term includes voyeurism, indecent exposure, the nonconsensual recording of nudity or sexual activity where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy (or the nonconsensual distribution of such recording), inducing another person to engage in sexual activity for payment or other benefit, and knowingly exposing another to a sexually transmitted infection.

Also known as: 

• Peeping Tom
• Revenge Porn
• Sex Trafficking
• Stealthing

Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety, or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress.

Stalking is contextual and unique to the person experiencing it, but tends to involve surveillance, intimidation, interference, and life invasion.

Non-forcible sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.

The statutory age of consent in Washington state is 16 years old and for those under the age of 18 years old, but older than 15, the person’s sexual partner must be no more than 5 years older than them.

Sexual intercourse or sexual contact with a person known to be related to them, as an ancestor, descendant, or sibling of either wholly or partially related.

Descendant includes stepchildren and adopted children under the age of eighteen.