by KYW's Amy Feldman

When a top state administrator was sued for sexual harassment after allegedly telling an underling “you’ll sleep with me or you’ll lose your job”—people were surprised to hear that the boss was a female and the subordinate a male.  The jury just returned a verdict in that case that raises questions not only about what the law actually says, but what a jury of one’s peers has to say about it.

Under Federal Civil Rights law, sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that can occur in a variety of different circumstances.  The victim as well as the harasser may be male or female and either gender has standing to bring a suit if aggrieved.  Interestingly, the male subordinate LOST his case in what may highlight a double standard by the jury, whom many have speculated would not have come back with the same decision had the genders been reversed.  Still, for women in a position of power the case still illustrates that the claim of harassment can be made against them.

Think it’s hard explaining to your boss why you and the company are being dragged into court to face sexual harassment charges because of your actions?  Now try explaining that to your husband.