Here was a company touted as a trailblazing feminist organization with a former CEO accused of female-to-female sexual harassment.
How could that be?
Female sexual harassment is less common, but it may also be less likely to be reported.
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You may also consider filing a report with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
What Is Same-Sex Sexual Harassment?
When most people think aboutsexual harassment in the workplace, they envision a man harassing a woman.
But there are cases where women harass women, men harass men, and women harass men.
Sexual harassment falls under Title VII, which is a law against sexual discrimination in the workplace.
Other reports indicate she expressed an interest in having asexual relationshipwith at least one of her female employees.
Why Don’t People Report Same-Sex Sexual Harassment?
They are often embarrassed and ashamed over what is happening to them.
Another reason for failing to report sexual harassment includes fear of retaliation.
Experts expect to see a rise in the number of same-sex sexual harassment complaints as employees become more empowered.
Why Do People Sexually Harass Others?
The harasser feels more in control when she has power over someone else.
Some harassers look to embarrass and humiliate their targets rather than sexually stimulate or flirt with them.
Sexual harassment is more about using a position of power to control and hurt someone else.
Meanwhile, 75% of women were harassed by male coworkers and 10% by female coworkers.
Yet, very few women are reporting the abuse.
In fact, 71% of women say that they never reported the sexual harassment they endured at work.
And of the 29% who did report the harassment, only 15% felt it was handled properly.
Sexual harassment in the workplace can have both emotional and professional costs.
It contributes to negative feelings, disengagement, and exhaustion.
Research has also shown that it has a negative effect on co-workers who witness such behaviors.
Cosmopolitan.Survey: 1 in 3 women has been sexually harassed at work.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.Sexual harassment.
Human Rights Campaign.Degrees of equality: A national study examining workplace climate for LGBT employees.
2019;14(7):e0218313.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218313
Harvard Business Review.Why we fail to report sexual harassment.
2019;9:2422. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02422
American Psychological Association.What it really takes to stop sexual harassment.
Dobbin F, Kalev A.The promise and peril of sexual harassment programs.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.
2022;12(9):326. doi:10.3390/bs12090326
