Perceptions of Sexual Harassment: A Re-Examination of Gender Differences

• Published in: The journal of psychology Vol. 124; no. 4; pp. 409 - 416
• Main Authors: Baker, Douglas D., Terpstra, David E., Cutler, Bob D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Provincetown, MA Taylor & Francis Group 01.07.1990; Journal Press; Journal Press, etc
• Subjects: Adult; Attitudes; Behavior. Attitude; Biological and medical sciences; Employee Grievances; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender Identity; Humans; Individuality; Male; Perceptions; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Sex Differences; Sex differentiation; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Harassment; Social Environment; Social psychology; Students; United States of America; Workers; Social environment; Human; Occupational environment; Sexual harassment; Social perception; Questionnaire; Attitude; Sex; Psychometrics; Student; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0022-3980; 1940-1019
• DOI: 10.1080/00223980.1990.10543236

There is mixed evidence for gender differences in perceptions of sexual harassment. To help clarify the existence of gender differences, we examined the sexual-harassment perceptions of 409 state government employees in the western United States. Few gender differences were found. We also compared the workers' perceptions to findings from a previous study of students (Terpstra & Baker, 1987). The relative ordering of the incidents' perceived severity was very similar, but workers perceived a number of incidents to be more harassing than did students. Thus, the major differences found were between students and workers, not between genders. Potential theoretical and methodological causes of these findings are discussed.