To qualify as actionable sexual harassment, the harasser's conduct must be characterized as?

To qualify as actionable sexual harassment, the harasser's conduct must be characterized as unwelcome. This means that the behavior is not only inappropriate but also not desired or accepted by the recipient. The "unwelcome" nature of the conduct is essential because it establishes that the victim did not seek or consent to the behavior, which is a critical factor for the behavior to be considered harassment.

In legal and organizational contexts, harassment is defined by the impact of the behavior on the victim rather than the intent of the harasser. If the behavior is unwelcome, it can create a hostile or intimidating environment, which justifies the victim’s claims for action. This understanding reinforces the importance of ensuring all interactions are respectful and consensual, particularly in workplace settings.

While other options may describe characteristics that could contribute to the overall impact of harassment, they do not meet the fundamental requirement that the behavior must be unwelcome to be classified as sexual harassment.