In today's society, we constantly hear or read stories of individuals who claim to have been victims of sexual pressure. These instances can take place at work, school, the military, and even church. But what is sexual exploitation or unwanted sexual behavior? After reviewing several definitions of sexual abuse, I came across the following definition that I believe will help us all better understand what inappropriate sexual behavior is. Sexual harassment has been defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as unwanted advances and requests for sexual behavior or conditional requests such that a person's employment will continue if they perform these acts. (Gale Group, 2003). This definition left me thinking and believing that unwanted sexual advances and inappropriate behavior existed long before they were labeled “sexual harassment” and recognized by law as an offensive act. When we truly look at history, we can say that slaves and servants suffered unwanted sexual advances, exploitation and pressure day after day. They were demeaned by their masters/employers and forced to perform sexual favors in order to survive. The decision to find an overarching word for sexual abuse of women was not an easy task and it was activists and lawyers such as Lin Farley, Susan Meyer and Catharine MacKinnon who thought about the term "harassment". sexual harassment" in the 1970s. (Farley) However, it was not until 1964, when the Civil Rights Act was implemented, that the word sexual harassment was truly introduced into law and banned from use. This offensive advance can take place at any time and almost anywhere. The harasser is usually...... middle of paper ......n.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_harassment#Early_history_of_the_use_of_the_termGale Group. (2003). Gale Encyclopedia of Everyday Law. Retrieved December 29, 2011 from eNotes: http://www.enotes.com/everyday-law-encyclopedia/sexual-harassmentSexual Harassment. (nd). Retrieved October 29, 2011 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_harassment#Effects_of_sexual_harassment_and_the_.28often.29_accompanying_retaliation Human rights defenders - Stop violence against women. (1992). Effects of sexual harassment. Retrieved October 29, 2011 from The Advocates for Human Rights - Stop Violence Against Women: http://stopvaw.org/Effects_of_Sexual_Harassment.htmlU.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (nd). Facts about sexual harassment. Retrieved October 29, 2011 from the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/fs-sex.cfm