The Impact of Male Work Environments and Organizational Policies on Women's Experiences of Sexual Harassment

Women's experiences with sexual harassment were analyzed with three types of variables: occupational and workplace sex ratios, organizational policies and procedures for dealing with sexual harassment problems, and women's cultural status (age and marital status). Regression analyses revealed that extent of contact with men was a key predictor of incidence of harassment, number of different types of harrassment, sexual comments, sexual categorical remarks, and sexual materials. Gender predominance was a significant predictor of physical threats and sexual materials. Informational methods were less successful than proactive methods in reducing incidents of sexual harassment. The analyses support two generalizations. The "contact hypothesis" tested and verified by Gutek and her colleagues provides a substantive understanding of our findings on workplace and occupational numerical predominance. Second, organizations that take a variety of steps to address sexual harassment are more apt to be successful in curtailing the problem than those relying mainly on "get out the word" techniques
Author: 
GRUBER,JAMES E.
Notes: 
10.1177/0891243298012003004
Reprint Status: 
IN FILE
Start Page: 
301
End Page: 
320
Journal/Periodical Name: 
Gender Society
Volume: 
12
Issue: 
3
Abstract: 
This article reviews the organizational dynamics that engender hostility and sexual harassment of women according to three types of variables-- women's cultural status (age and marital status), occupational and workplace sex ratios, and organizational policies and organizational procedures for dealing with sexual harassment problems. A sample of 1,990 Canadian women (mean age 34 years) who had worked within the past year were contacted by telephone and interviewed regarding their experiences with sexual harassment. Results indicate that the extent of contact with men was a key predictor of harassment including sexual comments, sexual categorical remarks, and sexual materials. Informational methods of harassment reduction were less successful than proactively oriented interventions. The authors conclude that organizations that take steps to directly address sexual harassment are more likely to be successful in curtailing the problem than those relying on awareness techniques.
Topic Areas: 
Harassment; prevention
Reference Type: 
JOUR
Reference ID: 
2397
Publication Date: 
1998/06/01