In the case of harassment, especially sexual harassment, it isn't so much about respect. Rather, it's about someone using a position of authority in a particular way to intimidate. So the idea of sexual harassment is about a person with greater authority making people feel uncomfortable.
The thing about sexual harassment is that it doesn't have to result in an actual act. It can be based on the discomfort that someone can feel knowing that there are, for example, little overtures of inappropriate touching. Is there an early warning system, or does someone have to have a formal complaint saying something actually happened?