Women eating ‘provocatively’ in public may face sex harassment case

Oct 08, 2011 |

London

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A group of lawyers from Finland have suggested that new sexual harassment laws should include women eating ‘too provocatively’ in public.

The Finnish team has even released a video showing a young female office worker sucking an ice lolly in a highly suggestive manner and male colleagues look away awkwardly or look on stunned as she moans and licks the lolly in the steamy clip after which a question appears on the screen asking: “Is this sexual harassment?”

“We have released this video to raise a very difficult issue. Sexual harassment in the workplace can target anyone, men or women,” the Daily Mail quoted the Finnish Lawyers Association as saying on its website.

“We fully intended to throw the cat among the pigeons and hope to stimulate debate about what is a very tricky legal area.

“We also want to inform the public that if they are unsure about a complex situation they may have faced, lawyers are there to help them,” it stated.

According to French newspaper France-Soir, an expert in EU laws on sexual harassment has slammed the video saying it has been exaggerated.

“This video shows a woman consuming an ice cream in a totally exaggerated manner that would make any man raise his eyebrows,” the expert said.

“Across most of Europe, the law says that any gestures aimed deliberately at sexually intimidating another person are a criminal offence.

“This film shows it is sometimes difficult to know where to draw the line and that women as well as men can be guilty of sexual harassment,” the expert added.

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