In 2017, women all over the world started posting on social media with the hashtag #metoo. They told stories of sexual harassment, with the aim of showing that it happened to women of all ages and backgrounds. The hashtag began an important conversation because many people were confused about the definition of sexual harassment. A common misunderstanding was that it referred only to unwanted physical contact; another was that sexual harassment was only done by men to women, perhaps on the street or in a bar.

In fact, sexual harassment law refers specifically to unwelcome behavior at work. Not only touching but a wide range of actions can be considered sexual harassment, as the chart on the next page illustrates. Moreover, both victims and perpetrators can be male or female, and harassment can take place between people of the opposite sex or the same sex. So although the #metoo movement described wome's experiences, and women are more likely to be victims of sexual harassment, it can affect anyone.

Actions considered to be sexual harassment in US workplaces
• Touching someone in a sexual way
• Frequently standing too close to someone and/or brushing against them
• Frequently asking someone to socialize after work although they show no interest
• Making sexual gestures
• Making sexual jokes, in person or electronically
• Sending sexual messages by text message, email, etc.
• Offering work-based rewards (e.g., a promotion) in return for sexual favors
• Giving sexual gifts, or leaving sexual items for someone to find
• Displaying sexual images in the workplace

Inspired by the law, many other organizations have now introduced rules about sexual harassment. Schools and colleges, in particular, are waking up to problems of harassment on campus that affect students' mental health. One positive effect of the #metoo movement is that the issue is more widely recognized. This means that victims can feel more confident about speaking up, and perpetrators are more likely to be punished.

2017 年，全世界的女性開始在社群媒體發表附有 #metoo 標籤的文章。她們訴說性騷擾的故事，目標在於告訴大家，這樣的事會發生在所有年齡層和背景的女性身上。#metoo 標籤開啟了重要的對話交流，因為許多人對於性騷擾的定義感到困惑。常見的誤解就是性騷擾只跟非自願的身體碰觸有關；另一項誤解是只有男性會在街頭或酒吧對女性性騷擾。

事實上，性騷擾防治法特別針對職場上的不當行為。如右頁圖表所示，不僅止於接觸而已，還有許多行為均可被認定為性騷擾。再者，男性或女性都可以是加害者與受害者，異性或同性之間都會發生騷擾情況。因此，雖然 #metoo 運動描述了女性的經驗，且女性較容易成為性騷擾的受害者，但性騷擾其實會影響所有人。

美國職場認定的性騷擾行為
• 以性暗示的方式碰觸某人。
• 經常站在太靠近某人的地方/ 或經常磨蹭某人。
• 即使對方不感興趣，仍經常邀請對方下班後交際。
美國職場認定的性騷擾行為
• 以性暗示的方式碰觸某人。
• 經常站在太靠近某人的地方/ 或經常磨蹭某人。
• 即使對方不感興趣，仍經常邀請對方下班後交際。
• 做出性暗示的動作手勢。
• 當面或以電子通訊方式開黃色笑話。
• 以簡訊、電子郵件等方式傳送性暗示的訊息。
• 以性服務為條件，交換職場相關獎勵（例如升遷）。
• 贈送性暗示的禮物，或讓某人去找出性暗示的物品。
• 在職場展示性影像。

受到性騷擾防治法激勵的許多組織機構，現已設立性騷擾的相關規定。尤其是大專院校，開始察覺到校園性騷擾問題對學生心理健康的影響。#metoo 運動帶來的正面影響之一，就是讓大眾更廣為正視該議題。這表示受害者能更有自信為自己發聲，加害者更有可能受到懲處。