Stress and Trauma: Week 5

What are the two components of the legal definition of sexual harassment?

Quid pro quo and hostile work environment

What is quid pro quo in terms of sexual harassment?

Work/academic decisions based on sexual behaviors

What is hostile work environment in terms of sexual harassment?

• When conduct is severe, persistent, or pervasive and: 

  • Unreasonably interferes with performance

  • Creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment

  • Effectively denies an individual equal access to a University program or activity

What are the three main categories on the sexual experiences questionnaire and which is most common? 

Gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, sexual coercion (quid pro quo) 

Gender harassment is the most common 

What is gender harassment — sexual experiences questionnaire

Offensive verbal and non-verbal sexual behaviors

What is unwanted sexual attention— sexual experiences questionnaire

Direct victim-focused behaviors (touching, ogling)

What is sexual coercion (quid pro quo)— sexual experiences questionnaire

• Implicit or explicit efforts to gain sexual cooperation in exchange for job-related outcomes

The prevalence of work-related sexual harassment of women depends on how it is measured— what are the types of measurement and what are the percentages of women who report each?

• Direct query (have you been sexually harassed?): 35%

• Behavioral measure: 62%

What is the difference in how women and men perceive behaviors? 

Women perceive more behaviors as sexual harassment than do men, especially more ambiguous behaviors

Prevalence of sexual harassment in students, and how many say it interfered with performance, created hostile environment, or limited their ability to participate?

• 42% of students experienced one of these behaviors

  • 19% that it interfered with performance, created a hostile environment, or limited their ability to participate

What are the most common behaviors of sexual harassment?

• Inappropriate comments about their/someone else’s body, appearance, sexual behavior: 34%

• Offensive sexual jokes/remarks/stories: 27%

Who are the most common perpetrators of sexual harassment?

• Other students: 89%

• Faculty or instructor only: 10%

Where does sexual harassment most often occur? 

It most often occurs in public spaces