Stop Being So Melodramatic! Or, the Problem with Sexual Harassment Policies

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-139
Author(s):  
Caitlin Howlett
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Sexual Harassment Policies

Workplace romance versus sexual harassment: a call to action regarding sexual hubris and sexploitation in the #MeToo era

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-347
Author(s):  
Lisa Mainiero
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Power Relations ◽  
Organizational Leaders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Workplace Romance ◽  
Lower Status ◽  
Sexual Harassment Policies ◽  
Dominant Coalition

Purpose The #MeToo movement has brought questions of sexuality and power in the workplace to the forefront. The purpose of this paper is to review the research on hierarchial consensual workplace romances and sexual harassment examining the underlying mechanisms of power relations. It concludes with a call to action for organizational leaders to adopt fair consensual workplace romance policies alongside strong sexual harassment policies. Design/methodology/approach This paper represents a conceptual review of the literature on consensual workplace romance, sexual harassment, passive leadership and power relations. Passive leadership leads to a climate of incivility that in turn suppresses disclosures of sexual harassment (Lee, 2016). Consensual workplace romances across hierarchical power relations carry significant risks and may turn into harassment should the romance turn sour. Findings Two new concepts, sexual hubris and sexploitation, are defined in this paper. Sexual hubris, defined as an opportunistic mindset that allows the powerful to abuse their power to acquire sexual liaisons, and its opposite, sexploitation, defined as a lower-status member using sexuality to gain advantage and favor from an upper-level power target, are dual opportunistic outcomes of an imbalanced power relation. Sexual hubris may increase the likelihood for sexual harassment such that a mindset occurs on the part of the dominant coalition that results in feelings of entitlement. Sexploitation is a micromanipulation tactic designed to create sexual favoritism that excludes others from the power relation. Research limitations/implications Sexual hubris and sexploitation are conceptualized as an opportunistic mechanisms associated with imbalanced power relations to spur future research to tease out complex issues of gender, sexuality and hierarchy in the workplace. Sexual hubris serves to protect the dominant coalition and shapes organizational norms of a climate of oppression and incivility. Conversely, sexploitation is a micromanipulation tactic that allows a lower-status member to receive favoritism from a higher-power target. Four research propositions on sexual hubris and sexploitation are presented for future scholarship. Practical implications Most organizational leaders believe consensual romance in the office cannot be legislated owing to privacy concerns. Passive leadership is discussed as a leadership style that looks the other way and does not intervene, leading to workplace hostility and incivility (Lee, 2016). Inadequate leadership creates a climate of passivity that in turn silences victims. Policies concerning consensual workplace romance should stand alongside sexual harassment policies regardless of privacy concerns. Social implications The #MeToo movement has allowed victims to disclose sexual misconduct and abuse in the workplace. However, the prevalence of sexual harassment claims most often can be traced to a leadership problem. Employers must recognize that sexual hubris and sexploitation arise from imbalances of power, where sex can be traded for advancement, and that often consensual workplace romances end badly, leading to claims of sexual harassment. Consensual romance policies must stand alongside sexual harassment policies. Originality/value Sexual hubris and sexploitation are offered as novel concepts that provide a mechanism for conceptualizing the potential for abuse and manipulation from unbalanced power relations. These are original concepts derived from the arguments within this paper that help make the case for consensual workplace romance policies alongside sexual harassment policies.

Coming to Terms with Zero Tolerance Sexual Harassment Policies

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret S. Stockdale ◽  
Susan Bisom-Rapp ◽  
Maureen O'Connor ◽  
Barbara A. Gutek
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Zero Tolerance ◽  
Sexual Harassment Policies

The Prevalence of Sexual Harassment Among Female Family Practice Residents in the United States

1996 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Vukovich
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Family Practice ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
The United States ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Female Resident ◽  
Resident Physicians ◽  
Sexual Harassment Policies

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of sexual harassment as defined by the AMA among female family practice residents in the United States. Of all 1,802 U.S. FP female resident physicians surveyed, a total of 916, or 51%, completed a survey of which 32% reported unwanted sexual advances, 48% reported use of sexist teaching material, 66% reported favortism based on gender, 36% reported poor evaluation based on gender, 37% reported malicious gossip, 5.3% reported punitive measures based on gender, and 2.2% reported sexual assault during residency. Thirty two percent of respondents reporting sexual harassment experienced negative effects including poor self-esteem, depression, psychological sequelae requiring therapy, and in some cases, transferring training programs. Sexual harassment is a common occurrence among family practice residents during residency training. Further studies are needed to examine the effect of sexual harassment policies instituted by the American Graduate Council on Medical Education on the prevalence of sexual harassment in medical training since the time of this study.

scholarly journals Sexual Harassment Policies in K-12 Schools: Examining Accessibility to Students and Content

2008 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
pp. 607-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren F. Lichty ◽  
Jennifer M.C. Torres ◽  
Maria T. Valenti ◽  
NiCole T. Buchanan
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Sexual Harassment Policies ◽  
K 12

scholarly journals Evaluation of Sexual Harassment Policies at Medical Institutions to Understand Attention to Harassment of Physicians by Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. e2135131
Author(s):  
Gabriela Reed ◽  
Sarah R. Ahmad ◽  
Elaine C. Khoong ◽  
Kristan Olazo ◽  
Reshma Jagsi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Medical Institutions ◽  
Sexual Harassment Policies
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