Sexual Harassment Against Men: Examining the Roles of Feminist Activism, Sexuality, and Organizational Context

The current study investigated men's experiences of sexual harassment in the workplace, including sexually advancing harassment (e.g., unwanted touching) and gender harassment (e.g., derogatory comments). We examined the associations among engaging in feminist activism, being a sexual minority...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology of men & masculinity 2016-01, Vol.17 (1), p.17-29
Main Authors: Holland, Kathryn J., Rabelo, Verónica Caridad, Gustafson, Amber M., Seabrook, Rita C., Cortina, Lilia M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activism
Bisexuality
Feminism
Gender
Homosexuality
Human
Human Sex Differences
Job satisfaction
Male
Masculinity
Men
Organizational Climate
Prescription drugs
Psychological well being
Punishment
Sexual Harassment
Sexual orientation
Sexuality
Touch
Well being
Workplaces
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Summary:The current study investigated men's experiences of sexual harassment in the workplace, including sexually advancing harassment (e.g., unwanted touching) and gender harassment (e.g., derogatory comments). We examined the associations among engaging in feminist activism, being a sexual minority (e.g., gay, bisexual), and working in an organizational context that tolerates sexual harassment in predicting men's experiences of harassment. Moreover, we examined whether activism was protective against negative personal and professional harassment-related outcomes. Our study utilized survey data from 326 working adult men. According to results, engaging in feminist activism and working in an organizational context that tolerates sexual harassment were significant predictors of the sexual harassment of men. Sexual orientation was not a significant predictor alone, although sexual minority men were more likely to engage in feminist activism. Sexual advance and gender harassment were both associated with decreased psychological well-being and job satisfaction, but engaging in feminist activism was protective for men's psychological well-being. These findings support theoretical conceptualizations of sexual harassment as a form of punishment for men who deviate from the prescriptions of traditional masculinity. Our results suggest that organizations would benefit from comprehensive and gender-fair policies and trainings related to workplace sexual harassment.
ISSN:1524-9220
1939-151X
DOI:10.1037/a0039151