Is calling a guy a woman considered sexual harassment if a female happens to hear it?

I really just don't see it. But I'm sorry to say that this incident happened to me today. My buddy and I were just joking around with one another and I just said, "listen here woman" and the wrong person happened to be in the room and got offended by what I said. I did apologize to her though, I really wasn't trying to offend anyone, except for my buddy.

its not sexual harrassment - cos it was not her to whom the comment was directed! Trust me, I'm a lawyer!

Huh???

I think she's taking it too personally. If the person you were talking to wasn't offended by it, and knew it for a joke, then there aren't grounds for sexual harassment. The offense must be taken by the person it was meant for. Just because some woman heard you call a guy a woman doesn't mean that you're sexist, or that you wish to harass women in any way.

Since you apologized to the woman, explaining that you didn't mean any offense to her, then the issue should be done with. Some people just don't have a sense of humour.

I learned from working with the government that someone overhearing you say a bad joke or something out of the way can be used as sexual harassment. It doesn't have to be directed at that person directly. We had to go to all kinds of classes on this stuff. But, I don't think that would be as big a deal as sexual harassment.

Telling sexually or racially offensive jokes can be considered harassment if they are overheard by others, even if the joke was not directed to them. This is called creating a "hostile work environment".

So be careful.

But, as jokes go, this was pretty mild and your female co-worker should lighten up. If she doesn't and collects a number of examples of your "sexist" remarks, she could cause a big stink for everyone.