The fine line between flirtation and sexual harassment, especially at the work place came up for discussion during Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Friday.

The question for discussion was, "is it okay for man to tell a woman, you look edible?"

Wading into the conversation, listeners of the Show expressed varied opinions.

The first caller, Bishop from Asante Mampong was of the view that harassment depends on how the person supposedly being harassed feels about. He stated that while one may entertain a comment relating to their sexuality by one person, they may react in a different way depending on their relationship with another person.

"Sometimes, the person will not react in a negative way when the comment comes from one person, but the instance she hears it from another, she/he begins to ask 'what do they take me for?" he said.

He added that in his outfit, where he is a member of a committee that addresses such issues, once a person reports such an issue, the matter is taken on and addressed immediately.

Another caller, Rukaya was of the view that tolerating comments relating to one's sexuality from one person and detesting same remark from another is unfair.

"I'm a lady, but I feel if I do that I'm not being fair. No matter the relationship I have with such a person, you have absolutely no right to say that to me. So just go straight and tell me this is it but if I smile at you when you make such comments then it means I want to to continue to entertain such comments from everyone.

Meanwhile, the Group Head, Legal and Corporate Services at Alianz Ghana, has said that men passing sexual or romantic comments about women at the work place is a form of sexual violence.

Freda Aniwaah Boateng said, “If you are a young lady and your boss has asked you to come to greet him every morning before he gets the energy to work and you cannot say no because he has authority over your salary increase, promotion or sustenance, it is a workplace abuse.

“Very soon, it will move from that to let’s go on a lunch date and then dinner date and to the others”.

She gave the explanation at a Seminar organised by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association in Accra in April 2021, on the theme: “Gender-Based Violence: Impact on Health and Productivity in a Covid-19 World”.

Ms. Boateng emphasised that it is not only physical touches at work that constitute sexual violence, but verbal comments too. Such harassments, she said reduces the victim’s productivity and their ability to confidently give off their best input.