Sexual h

8/13/2019 Sexual h

1/14

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Learning Module

SexualHarassment

Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

8/13/2019 Sexual h

2/14

Lesson Objectives At the end of this lecture, you should:

Know the definition of sexual harassmentUnderstand the difference between two majortypes of sexual harassment: quid pro quo andhostile work environmentUnderstand the difference betweenharassment as a legal concern and as a

perceptionKnow the major legal milestones regardingsexual harassmentRecognize perceptual influences on sexual

harassment Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

8/13/2019 Sexual h

3/14

Sexual Harassment is:

Any sexually-based behavior that isknowingly unwanted and either:

has an adverse effect on a personsemployment status,interferes with a persons job performance,

orcreates a hostile or intimidating workenvironment


8/13/2019 Sexual h

4/14

The Law on Sexual

Harassment

Illegal under the Civil Rights Act of 19641977 - First quid pro quo ruling1986 - First Supreme Court hostileenvironment ruling1991 - Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings


8/13/2019 Sexual h

5/14

How Frequently Does it Occur?

1989: between 42 and 92% of workingwomen have been sexually harassed

1988 & 1995 DOD surveywomen reporting being harassed droppedfrom 64% to 55%

1991 & 1998 CNN/Time PollIs SH of women a big problem?

1991 - 37% said yes1998 - 26% said yes


8/13/2019 Sexual h

6/14

Personal and Situational CharacteristicsAffecting Perceptions of Harassment

Harassment is more likely to be perceived when:the target is female and the perpetrator is malethe target has less power than the perpetratorthe behavior is repeatedrequest by the target for behavior to stopnegative consequences follow

the target suffers emotional or stress-relatedsymptomsthe organization has been soft on perpetrators inthe past


8/13/2019 Sexual h

7/14

Event 1 An older female works as a cashier at agas station/garage. The mechanics aremale, and most are younger than she is.

While the men never make comments toher, she has overheard them makingcomments about attractive femalecustomers who bring in their cars for repair.

There are also several calendars in theshop area showing women in bikinis.


8/13/2019 Sexual h

8/14

Event 2

A male professor teaches a literature classat a local college. His reading list includesseveral books that, while consideredclassics, involve stories of rape or theseduction of women. He occasionally usesgraphic metaphors in his classes, such as

comparing creative writing to having sex.


8/13/2019 Sexual h

9/14

Event 3 A male boss asks a female subordinate totravel with him on a personal business trip.There appears to her to be no realbusiness need for her to travel. In order tosave money, the trip will require them tostay over on a Saturday night. She

refuses, because she feels it isinappropriate. On her next performanceevaluation, she receives a much lowerrating than she expected.


8/13/2019 Sexual h

10/14

Event 4

Ninth-graders at a local middle school(both male and female) tease a classmatebecause she has a reputation for datingolder boys. They call her names such asbitch and tramp. She becomes depressed

by the teasing and her schoolwork suffers.


8/13/2019 Sexual h

11/14

Event 5 A female co-worker has a desk near thewater fountain. Male co-workers frequentlystop at the fountain on Monday morningsand discuss their weekends. Much of thisdiscussion includes detailed replays of theirsexual activity and often includesderogatory or sexist remarks about theirwomen partners. While they never speakto the female co-worker, she can overhearthem. She has repeatedly asked them tostop, and she has begun to dread coming

in to work on Mondays.Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

8/13/2019 Sexual h

12/14

Event 6

A female supervisor asks a malesubordinate out on three occasions. Eachtime, he refuses, but appears pleased thatshe has asked him. On the fourthoccasion, she warns him that the next time

she asks him out, he had better play ballor else. He is now concerned because heneeds his job very badly.


8/13/2019 Sexual h

13/14

Event 7

A male supervisor frequently goes out tolunch with his male subordinates. Hisfemale subordinates are rarely asked. Healso plays basketball on weekends withseveral of the other males. He appears totreat both males and females equally in

discussions, but everyone in the office isaware that he always gives better workassignments and higher raises to the malesubordinates.


8/13/2019 Sexual h

14/14

I-O psychologists are active inprevention of sexual harassment

Help develop effective company policiesand procedures on sexual harassment

Design training to address:general awareness of sexual harassmentdefinitions, policies, procedures

communication skills

to avoid harassment before it happensconflict resolution skills

to address harassment went it occurs


Documents

Sexual h