Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

 
Module 32 
Gender and Sex 
347
FIGURE 4
Sexual harassment in school. 
The number of students who report 
experiencing unwelcomed sexual 
attention often or occasionally at school 
is signifi cant. 
(Source: AAUW, 2001.)
20
Girls
Boys
0
40
60
80
Percentage of students experiencing each kind of behavior
Sexual messages were
written about them in
public areas
Were shown, given,
or left sexual material
Clothing was pulled
at in a sexual way
Sexual rumors were
spread about them
Were intentionally
brushed up against
in a sexual way
Were touched,
grabbed, or pinched
in a sexual way
Received sexual
comments, jokes,
gestures, or looks
school students reported receiving some form of sexual harassment in school; 6 in 
10 experienced physical sexual harassment at some point in their school lives (see 
Figure 4). One-third of students are afraid of being sexually harassed; girls are more 
than twice as likely as boys to report concern. Overall, estimates suggest that one of 
every two women will be harassed at some point during her academic or working 
life (AAUW, 2001; Fitzgerald et al., 2003). 
Sexual harassment often has less to do with sex than with power (similar to the 
motivation behind many cases of rape, which we’ll discuss in a later module). In this 
view, higher-status persons who engage in harassment may be less interested in 
receiving sexual favors than in demonstrating their power over their victims 
(O’Donohue, 1997; Huerta et al., 2006). 
In some cases, harassment stems from benevolent sexism, stereotyped and restric-
tive attitudes that appear on the surface to be benefi cial to women. For example, a 
male employer may compliment a woman on her attractiveness or offer her an easy 
job so that she won’t have to “work so hard.” The reality, however, is that such com-
ments or “favors” may undermine the employee’s sense of competence, and she may 
feel that she is not being taken seriously (Glick et al., 2004; Forbes, Jung, & Haas, 
2006; Dardenne, Dumont, & Bollier, 2007). 
Regardless of the motivation that lies behind sexual harassment, the conse-
quences for the victim are clear. Feelings of shame and embarrassment are standard 
and may be compounded by a sense of helplessness and powerlessness because 
targets of harassment are typically in lower-status positions. People in these situa-
tions often suffer emotional and physical consequences, and the quality of their work 
may decline. Furthermore, they are less likely to believe they can attain higher posi-
tions (Magley, 2002; Miner-Rubino & Cortina, 2007; Chiodo et al., 2009).
feL82795_ch11_340-377.indd Page 347 8/17/10 9:36 PM user-f464
feL82795_ch11_340-377.indd Page 347 8/17/10 9:36 PM user-f464

---