South American Perspectives on Sexual Harassment: The Standpoint in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile

Abstract

This study analyzed questionnaire data about sexual harassment and sexual aggression from 8198 employees in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Responses were analyzed using MANOVA, a multivariate analysis of variance. The results of testing differences between the effects of sexual harassment and sexual aggression on job satisfaction consequences were analyzed with a focus on South American perspectives, some of which are different from previous findings in U.S. studies. While previous U.S. studies show sexual harassment causes decreased job satisfaction, the findings of this study revealed that South American employees who were sexually harassed did not show significant decreases in job satisfaction. However, when the same populations were targets of the more serious offense of sexual aggression, they did report significant decreases in job satisfaction. Given the contrast between these results and the results of previous U.S. studies in the literature, these findings indicate that this perspective on sexual harassment differs between cultures. Differences in cultural values were analyzed using G. Hofstede’s (2001) cultural dimensions. Further research with regard to the managerial nature of these perceptual differences is indicated.