Likelihood to Sexually Harass

Abstract

Perceptual differences between men and women in what constitutes sexual harassment have been studied extensively (Rotundo et al., 2001), but the sexual harassment literature has been critiqued on the ground that it often neglects important cultural dimensions ABSTRACT We tested hypotheses regarding the association of national culture with the likelihood to sexually harass by comparing samples of male and female international students. Our hypotheses were derived from implications of Hofstede's cross cultural dimension of power distance in light of the developing sexual harassment literature in an international context. One hundred and seventy eight American, Indian, and Chinese male and female students were administered the Likelihood to Sexually Harass (LSH) survey. Based on the results, most of our hypotheses were supported, although there was one unanticipated finding regarding female subjects. Our findings indicated that while males scored significantly higher than females on the LSH scale, nationality had a strong and independent effect on the LSH scores. Chinese and Indian males scored significantly higher on the LSH than American males. Chinese females scored significantly higher on the LSH instrument than American females. Hofstede's power distance dimension appears to capture an important aspect of national culture that shapes the perceptions and behaviors of both males and females in their proclivity to sexually exploit others with less power. Results and the limitations of the study as well as the future need to conduct sexual harassment research on diverse populations from different countries are discussed. KEY WORDS • cross cultural • gender differences • LSH • power distance • sexual harassment

Sexual harassment.

“…Women were proposed to tolerate SBH to a greater degree in societies with these cultural values. Consistent with these predictions, men in China and India exhibit higher levels of LSH than men in the United States (Luthar & Luthar, 2008); women in Brazil experience more sexual harassment than women in the United States (Gelfand et al, 1995); and people in Ecuador, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Turkey are less likely than people in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States to interpret unwanted sexual attention from a superior as harassment (Sigal et al, 2005). However, not all studies have supported Luthar and Luthar's predictions (e.g., Shaffer et al, 2000, found no consistent patterns across Hong Kong, Beijing, and the United States).…”

Does Culturally Adapted Online Communication Work? A Study of American and Chinese Internet Users’ Attitudes and Preferences Toward Culturally Customized Web Design Elements

“…The model has been developed and applied primarily in anthropological and sociological contexts (Basu, 2003; Hofstede, 1994). In cross‐cultural research, the use of Hofstede's framework has been limited to macrolevel inquiries concerned with identifying cultural predictors of social and economic trends, such as corruption rates (Cheung & Chan, 2008), sexual harass (Luthar & Luthar, 2008), work motivation (Barbuto & Gifford, 2007), and gender inequality (Cheung, 2007). We think that our study expanded Hofstede's theoretical model by introducing previously underexplored technological dimensions, such as hyperlinking and blogging.…”

Moral disengagement as a self-regulatory process in sexual harassment perpetration at work: A preliminary conceptualization

“…Although researchers have endeavored to identify the characteristics of male sexual harassers (e.g., Begany & Milburn, 2002;Krings & Facchin, 2009;Luthar & Luthar, 2008;Pryor, 1987;Stillman, Yamawaki, Ridge, White, & Copley, 2009), less research has examined the motives driving sexual harassment. And almost no research has focused on the cognition of the sexual harassment perpetrator and the self-regulatory processes which inhibit and facilitate harassing behavior.…”