Expanding the definition of sexual harassment

Abstract

The purpose of this paper has been to expand the popular concept of sexual harassment by pointing out some of its hidden forms and their insidious effects. It can occur on almost any job and in any type of work situation, and it can be initiated by anyone with whom a woman works. Although these less-well-known forms of harassment do not result in the same level of economic loss as superior-subordinate harassment where the woman is told to 'sleep with me or you're fired', they do contribute to unemployment and loss of promotions and undercut women's ability and motivation to work. Equally important, they create apparently high levels of stress which can cause physical and mental health difficulties, thus serving as a hidden occupational hazard. A report is given, based on case records of 249 women who were counseled at Working Women's Institute in 1980 because they were having difficulty with sexual attentions or behaviors at work or school. A content analysis was developed to describe the type of harassment, effect on job status, and stress effects. Health professionals need to be aware of sexual harassment as a potential source of health problems. An understanding of the intricate web of relationships between type of work, job status, and social interactions that lead to a stressful sexual situation at work, can aid in treatment of women who are experiencing stress under these circumstances. They may even help to detect sources of stress of which the woman herself is not aware. Once the woman and the health professional have identified the stress, strategies can be developed which will help her to minimize the stress while, hopefully, eliminating its source.