Factors in defining sexual harassment
Studies consistently find that women see more sexual harassment in the workplace than do men (see review by Blumenthal, 1998). Some suggest that this may be due to differences in how sexual harassment is defined by these two groups. However, factors other than observer gender seem to play a role in whether a specific interaction is deemed to be harassment have been studied.
Katz et al (1996) found that the power dynamic in a relationship was a major factor in whether an interaction was deemed harassment. Powell (1986) found that men and women tend to define sexual harassment differently, but that personality masculinity plays a greater role than sex. Marks and Nelson (1993) found that the gender of the harasser played a large role for both male and female viewers. Reese and Lindenberg (2005) found that age also played a large role in how sexual harassment was defined. Ellis et al (1991) found a correlation between personal attractiveness and a discrepancy between actual and perceived sexual harassment.
I am notoriously blind to harassment of most kinds. I very rarely see any enmity directed towards me as being due to what I may represent; I tend to assume (even if I'm being called by a slur) that the person is just looking for ways to hurt me personally, and not really directing their anger towards everyone of my gender/sexuality/race/etc. However, I'm also very aware of the ways in which I end up being a poster boy. For a lot of people, I am the first [choose label] they've had a conversation with, and I find myself speaking in generalities, trying to represent the diverse experiences of [label] instead of making an honest representation of my own experiences.
Katz et al (1996) found that the power dynamic in a relationship was a major factor in whether an interaction was deemed harassment. Powell (1986) found that men and women tend to define sexual harassment differently, but that personality masculinity plays a greater role than sex. Marks and Nelson (1993) found that the gender of the harasser played a large role for both male and female viewers. Reese and Lindenberg (2005) found that age also played a large role in how sexual harassment was defined. Ellis et al (1991) found a correlation between personal attractiveness and a discrepancy between actual and perceived sexual harassment.
I am notoriously blind to harassment of most kinds. I very rarely see any enmity directed towards me as being due to what I may represent; I tend to assume (even if I'm being called by a slur) that the person is just looking for ways to hurt me personally, and not really directing their anger towards everyone of my gender/sexuality/race/etc. However, I'm also very aware of the ways in which I end up being a poster boy. For a lot of people, I am the first [choose label] they've had a conversation with, and I find myself speaking in generalities, trying to represent the diverse experiences of [label] instead of making an honest representation of my own experiences.