In dicussions of the McGinn case, it's important to remember the legal background. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (see http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-sex.html).
Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted). [emphasis mine].
Those who think that McGinn's alleged emails are "mild" or "not severe" would do well to remember that many seemingly small actions over a long period of time can produce a hostile or offensive work environment. Sexual harassment does not require that there be an obvious, severe offense in order to be in violation of Title VII -- or to be problematic and painful for the victim.
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