Final answer:
Sexual harassment that leads to a sexual relationship, especially in power-imbalanced situations, can have legal, professional, and personal repercussions. Institutions may face liability, while individuals may suffer job loss, reputational damage, and emotional distress. Both quid pro quo and hostile environment harassment can undermine workplace and educational settings, with the former involving sexual favors for organizational rewards and the latter comprising an intimidating, unwelcome atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person submits to sexual harassment and a sexual relationship occurs, particularly in a workplace or educational setting, the repercussions can be significant for all parties involved. The harasser, often in a position of power, might offer organizational rewards in exchange for sexual favors, a practice known as quid pro quo. However, if a sexual relationship develops, the institution, such as a college, may be held legally liable for tolerating such behavior.
Institutions like The College of William and Mary explicitly prohibit any sexual contact between students and teachers due to the inherent power difference. Conversely, schools such as Williams College mandate that teachers abstain from supervisory relationships with students they are involved with. Nevertheless, engaging in such relationships can lead to severe consequences for teachers, such as job loss, damage to reputation, and legal repercussions, as well as detrimental effects on students, including emotional distress and impact on their academic or professional progress.
In cases of hostile environment sexual harassment, an individual's job performance may suffer due to an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment created by unwelcome sexual conduct. This type of harassment and its consequences extend beyond the legal and professional realms; it can also be a public issue of systematic discrimination, as highlighted by media reports that often shift the focus to personal responsibility, making it appear as a private dispute rather than a broader societal problem.