The influence of individual characteristics and severity of harassing behavior on reactions to sexual harassment

Baker, Douglas D.; Terpstra, David E.; Larntz, Kinley

doi:10.1007/bf00288336

Cited by 116 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…As for the typologies of harassment to be found in the literature, subtle forms of sexual harassment are considered to be those that are not easily recognizable as discriminatory acts (Baker, Terpstra, & Larntz, 1990;Jones & Remland, 1992;Saunders & Senn, 2009). The results of this study agree with the findings of these authors in that, in general, perception of sexual harassment was lower in gender harassment than in unwanted sexual attention.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

To Confront Versus not to Confront: Women’s Perception of Sexual Harassment

Herrera

Expósito

2018

The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context

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A B S T R A C TCurrent research has postulated that sexual harassment is one of the most serious social problems. Perceptions of sexual harassment vary according to some factors: gender, context, and perceiver's ideology. The strategies most commonly used by women to cope with harassment range from avoiding or ignoring the harasser to confronting the harasser or reporting the incident. The aim of this study was to explore women's perception of sexual harassment, and to assess the implications of different victim responses to harassment. A total of 138 women were administered a questionnaire where the type of harassment, and victim response were manipulated. Moreover, the influence of ideological variables (i.e. ambivalent sexism and the acceptance of myths of sexual harassment) on perception was assessed. Results show perception of sexual harassment was lower in gender harassment than in unwanted sexual attention and participants believed women who confronted their harasser would be evaluated negatively by men. Furthermore, effects of ideology on perception of harassment were found. The results underscore the complexities involved in defining certain behaviours as harassment, and the implications of different victim responses to harassment.Enfrentarse o no: la percepción del acoso sexual por parte de la mujer R E S U M E N La investigación actual postula que el acoso sexual es uno de los problemas sociales más graves. La percepción de acoso varía de acuerdo a factores como: género, contexto e ideología del perceptor. Las estrategias más utilizadas por las mujeres para hacer frente al acoso van desde evitar o ignorar al acosador hasta enfrentarse a él o denunciarlo. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la percepción de las mujeres sobre el acoso sexual, y evaluar las implicaciones de las diferentes respuestas de las víctimas de acoso. A 138 mujeres se les administró un cuestionario en el que el tipo de acoso y la respuesta de la víctima, fueron manipulados. Además, se evaluó la influencia del sexismo ambivalente y la aceptación de los mitos de acoso sexual en la percepción. Los resultados muestran que la percepción de acoso sexual fue menor en el acoso de género que en la atención sexual no deseada y las participantes creen que las mujeres que confrontan el acoso serán evaluadas negativamente por los hombres. Además, se encontraron efectos de la ideología sobre la percepción de acoso. Los resultados ponen de relieve las complejidades involucradas en la definición de ciertos comportamientos como el acoso y las implicaciones de las diferentes respuestas a las víctimas de acoso.Palabras clave: Acoso sexual Mitos Sexismo Percepción social Afrontamiento

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

To Confront Versus not to Confront: Women’s Perception of Sexual Harassment

Herrera

Expósito

2018

The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context

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“…In addition, there is an abundance of research showing that whether or not ambiguous instances of potential harassment are, in fact, defined as harassment depends on many factors including the evaluator's gender, age, education, religiosity, attitude toward women, and experience with harassment, among others (Baker, Terpstra, & Larntz, 1990;Gutek, Morasch, & Cohen, 1983;Konrad & Gutek, 1986;Powell, 1983;Terpstra & Baker, 1985, 1989. This clause, which literally "covers a multitude of sins," may also constitute a nightmare for an employer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Sexual harassment: Rights and responsibilities

Gutek

1993

Employ Respons Rights J

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This article briefly reviews the development of a philosophy about sexual harassment at work and legal protection for victims of harassment. It then focuses on the rights and responsibilities of three groups affected by sexual harassment: the target of harassment, the alleged harasser, and the employing organization. A discussion follows regarding the current status of the rights and responsibilities of the relevant parties as well as opportunities for abuse of rights and abnegation of responsibilities.KEY WORDS: sexual harassment; rights of victims of sexual harassment; legal rights and responsibilities.

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“…As conceptualized by Firestone & Harris (1994), individualized harassment includes behaviors that leave little room for misinterpretation and are frequently physical in nature (e.g., actual or attempted rape, uninvited or unwanted pressure for sexual favors or dates, touching, leaning over, cornering, pinching), while environmental harassment refers to a broader organizational context of sexist behaviors (e.g., unwanted and uninvited letters, phone calls, sexually suggestive looks/gestures/body language, calls/hoots/yells of a sexual nature). Baker, Terpstra & Larntz (1990) found that sexually coercive experiences (like demanding sexual favors or dates, or touching) were more likely to be reported than more general harassment (like sexual teasing, jokes and whistles). Fitzgerald, Swan & Fischer (1995) argued that a victim's response relates to her or his need to reduce personal stress.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Baker, Terpstra & Larntz (1990) found that sexually coercive experiences (like demanding sexual favors or dates, or touching) were more likely to be reported than more general harassment (like sexual teasing, jokes and whistles). Fitzgerald, Swan & Fischer (1995) argued that a victim's response relates to her or his need to reduce personal stress.…”

Section: Journal Of Sociological Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Victimization in the U.S. Military: The Impact of Labeling Events on Officially Reporting Sexual Harassment

Harris¹,

Firestone²

2010

JSR

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We analyzed the extent to which type and labeling of harassment have an impact on reporting through official channels. Reinforcing earlier analyses, type of harassment impacted whether individuals reported incidents officially. Environmental harassment was far more likely to be reported through official channels. We speculate that "individualized" forms of harassment (personal, frequently directly physical in nature, leaving little room for misinterpretation by the victim or the perpetrator) may create a negative organizational image and therefore be more likely to be concealed. Since experiencing environmental harassment is strongly related to experiencing individualized harassment and is more likely to be reported through official channels, it may be the real key to creating zero-tolerance for any type of sexual harassment.Keywords: Victimization, Sexual Harassment, Environmental Harassment, Individualized Harassment, Reporting Harassment, U. S. Military Research ISSN 1948-5468 2010 www.macrothink.org/jsr 2 Journal of Sociological IntroductionThree basic theoretical perspectives have been used to understand sexual harassment. The biological perspective suggests that men and women are naturally attracted to each other and that in order to maximize their reproductive potential, males should engage in sexually aggressive behaviors because if their advances are accepted they increase the likelihood of creating offspring (Tangri & Hayes, 1997). Women, on the other hand, have a higher investment in reproduction and nurturing their offspring and would be less likely to behave in sexually aggressive ways (Tangri & Hayes, 1997). Thus a situation becomes defined as harassment only if the woman is not receptive to the sexual behavior (Tangri & Hayes, 1997). The socio-cultural perspective focuses on differential sex role socialization of men and women (Firestone & Harris, 1994; Tangri & Hayes, 1997; Terpstra & Baker, 1986; Whatley & Wasieleski, 2001). Sexual harassment is consistent with the socially accepted roles of dominant and aggressive men and submissive and subordinate women (this also helps explain the reluctance to believe that men are harassed).The organizational perspective focuses on individual power -those with more power can (and often do) make harassing demands on those with less power (Terpstra & Baker, 1986). Research indicates that most harassment is perpetrated by co-workers rather than superiors (Firestone & Harris, 1994;1999) which seems inconsistent with this perspective. However, as Thacker (1996) notes, individuals with less organizational status may display power through their personalities or by controlling critical information; thus harassment may appear to be less threatening to observers when perpetrated by co-workers but may appear equally severe to targets.One reason for the continued extent of harassment may be the problems associated with reporting incidences. A number of myths about sexual harassment reinforce difficulties in reporting, particularly within formal organizationa...

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The influence of individual characteristics and severity of harassing behavior on reactions to sexual harassment

Cited by 116 publications

References 42 publications

To Confront Versus not to Confront: Women’s Perception of Sexual Harassment

To Confront Versus not to Confront: Women’s Perception of Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment: Rights and responsibilities

Victimization in the U.S. Military: The Impact of Labeling Events on Officially Reporting Sexual Harassment

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