Chapter 3 LIMITATIONS OF THE ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACT OF 1995 VIS-À-VIS THE THREE VIEWS ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT After examining the assumptions underlying the definition of sexual harassment in The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (RA 7877), this chapter now examines the limitations of the law itself, vis-à-vis insights endorsed by the three views on sexual harassment. RA 7877 is limited because (a) its definition of sexual harassment is inadequate as it does not recognize peer and street/stranger harassment and (b) sexist norms in the Philippine culture and gender stereotypes in law spill over into the arena of sexual harassment law, thus diminishing the law’s efficacy. The former, that is, its limiting definition itself, constitute the law’s direct limitations, while the latter, namely, sexist norms in Philippine culture and gender stereotypes in law, comprise indirect limitations. While enumerating the shortcomings of RA 7877, in both its direct and indirect limitations, relevant insights from the three views on sexual harassment are interjected throughout the discussion. Direct Limitations First of all, The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (RA 7877) is limited because of its limiting definition itself. RA 7877 does not recognize peer or horizontal harassment, or sexual harassment perpetrated against someone of the same occupational or academic status, such as harassment from a co-worker or another student. It only recognizes vertical harassment, or harassment perpetrated by a person in authority toward a subordinate.