Sexual Harassment

Prevalence and Reporting

The experience of sexual harassment is not limited to one age or gender. Studies show that women and men of all ages may be subjected to sexual harassment. As many as 70% of women and 45% of men have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, while up to 80% of students in Grades 8 through 11 and 65% percent of college students say they have been sexually harassed. Even so, many experts believe that sexual harassment remains underreported. Those who experience harassment may be reluctant to report it because of concerns about possible retaliation such as demotion, job loss, or stigmatization.

Indeed, research has shown that targets of sexual harassment may face such consequences as a result of reporting harassment. Oftentimes harassers hold some power over their targets, making reporting potentially even more difficult. Although sexual harassment is sometimes popularly represented as the result of some misunderstanding or overreaction, research shows that it is in fact a powerful tactic used by some individuals to exert power over others through sexual intimidation tactics.

Types of Sexual Harassment

In the United States, two forms of sexual harassment are recognized under the law. The first, quid[Page 750]pro quo or “something for something,” refers to instances when sexual demands are made, or threatened to become, a condition of or basis for employment or school-related decisions such as grades or access to school activities. This type of harassment is usually directed at a subordinate by a person of power within an organization.

The second type of sexual harassment, hostile environment, can occur among individuals who have the same amount of power within an organization or among those of different statuses. Hostile environment harassment refers to the existence of sexual conduct or materials in the workplace that unreasonably interfere with a person's ability to perform her or his job or school tasks or when such conduct creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive working or learning environment. In most cases, a pattern of unwelcome sexual conduct must typically be shown in order to qualify as hostile work environment harassment. On very rare occasions, a single incident may qualify as hostile work environment harassment if the event is particularly severe.

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