Sexual harassment and athletics: Legal and policy implications for athletic departments

Abstract

In light of recent research suggesting that sexual harassment is widespread in educational institutions, this article reviews the relationship between sexual harassment and athletic programs. It examines the role that athletic directors should play in preventing sexual harassment within their programs as well as sexually harassing actions committed outside the athletic departments by those associated with their programs. There may be a need to examine whether athletics provides a connection between sexual harassment and the perpetrators due to the power and social status equated to males involved with athletics. This article further examines the need for an understanding of sexual harassment, the adherence to institutional policies, and the implementation of training programs to prevent sexual harassment from occurring in athletic departments. © 1995, SAGE PERIODICALS PRESS. All rights reserved.