Sexual harassment is a large issue in the United States. Sexual harassment can defined as harassment, typically of a woman, in a workplace, or other professional or social situation, involving the making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks (Sexual Harassment). Sexual harassment can include but are not limited to acts such as leering, obscene phone-calls, stalking, indecent exposure, or pressure for dates (Sexual Harassment). A study that Cosmopolitan Magazine published in February of 2015 surveyed 2,235 women and found that 1 out of every 3 women had been sexual harassed at work. This number is not including the 16% of women surveyed who said they had not been sexually harassed but did report workplace interactions that meets the definition of sexual harassment. When the same study was broken down by the career of the surveyees 31% of women who worked in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields reported being sexually harassed (Survey). Sexual harassment can happen anywhere, but there has recently been a large amount of research put into sexual harassment specifically in science and research fields. Another online survey of field scientists recently reported that uncovered a range of negative experiences; nearly two-thirds of the 666 respondents, who were mostly women, reported being sexually harassed at a field site, and one-fifth said that they had been sexually assaulted (Gewin). Reports also show that until recently this has not been a known issue due to universities sweeping these issues under the rug and women not coming forward in fear of losing their jobs (Harassment Victims). However, more victims are coming out with their stories bringing this issue into public view.
The first main stakeholder in this issue are the victims. A victim of sexual harassment is defined as any person, generally female but not always, who has been sexually harassed. Many victims of sexual harassment do not report their perpetrator for fear of losing their job, being excluded from career advancing activities, or having the harassment getting worse. A survey showed that 71% of women who were harassed at work reported the harassment and out of the 29% who did report only 15% them felt that the report was handled fairly (Survey). This is a common problem in the United States and is better illustrated in rape cases. In many rape cases women report being harassed, taunted, being told the rape was their fault, and not believed after reporting their rape. This creates a culture that is not conducive for victims to report their harassment and further burying the issue.
On the other end of the issue and the second main stakeholder are the perpetrators. There are many cases of men in positions of power such as professors, senior researchers, and even so-called rising stars in academics, having sexual harassment reports filed against them and not only having no repercussions, but being promoted, receiving honors, and receiving tenure (Zevallos). Sexual harassment is believed to not be about sexual gratification but about control and power. A psychologist from the University of Washington named Dr. John Gottman explained sexual harassment like this: “Sexual harassment is a subtle rape, and rape is more about fear than sex. Harassment is a way for a man to make a woman vulnerable." Sexual harassment conducted by people in power is often viewed as a way for people to induce fear, shame, and self-blame in victims (Goleman). This is all assuming the accused are actually guilty. While reported far less often, there are reports of victims falsely accusing men to win settlements or try to gain power.
Universities are another large stakeholder Universities are institutions of higher learning where a student receives specialized education to receive a degree. A large part of many universities is research. Research can be a part of any academic discipline but is mainly associated with S.T.E.M fields. Researchers are generally, but not always, undergraduate or graduate students who are generally aged 18 to 25. This also falls into the most commonly harassed age group of 19-24 (Survey). College education also correlates with sexual harassment as shown in a survey with 45% of surveyees having a bachelor's degree, 29% of surveyees having some college education, and 19% of surveyees having a graduate degree (Survey). Universities may not appear to be an important stakeholder but the University’s entire reputation can be ruined by a sexual harassment scandal. This can cause many universities to have less than helpful responses to reports of sexual harassment. No one knows exactly how many cases of sexual harassment are reported to universities each year due to universities not being open about this issue (Harassment Victims). The universities have the job of taking these claims, which could harm the university’s reputation if the report is true or false, and figure out how to handle it.
The last stakeholder is the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Overview) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, including pregnancy, national origin, age, 40 or older, disability or genetic information (EEOC). The EEOC has the job of figuring out if sexual harassment reports brought before their attention is just slightly inappropriate teasing (which is not illegal), sexual harassment (which is illegal), or even a false report (EEOC-Sexual Harassment). As the oversight committee for sexual harassment for universities that receive funding through Title IX this places them as a large stake holder for sexual harassment in universities.
Sexual harassment, specifically in academic and research situations is a largely underrepresented issue in the United States that is just recently coming to light. The four main stakeholders in the issue of sexual assault in the scientific research field primarily in universities are: the victim, the perpetrator, the university, and the EEOC. All of these groups have different motives and responses to this issue but all are important and without any one of these groups there would be no issue. Every time the topic of sexual harassment is discussed the academic realm should be brought into consideration along with offices.
The first main stakeholder in this issue are the victims. A victim of sexual harassment is defined as any person, generally female but not always, who has been sexually harassed. Many victims of sexual harassment do not report their perpetrator for fear of losing their job, being excluded from career advancing activities, or having the harassment getting worse. A survey showed that 71% of women who were harassed at work reported the harassment and out of the 29% who did report only 15% them felt that the report was handled fairly (Survey). This is a common problem in the United States and is better illustrated in rape cases. In many rape cases women report being harassed, taunted, being told the rape was their fault, and not believed after reporting their rape. This creates a culture that is not conducive for victims to report their harassment and further burying the issue.
On the other end of the issue and the second main stakeholder are the perpetrators. There are many cases of men in positions of power such as professors, senior researchers, and even so-called rising stars in academics, having sexual harassment reports filed against them and not only having no repercussions, but being promoted, receiving honors, and receiving tenure (Zevallos). Sexual harassment is believed to not be about sexual gratification but about control and power. A psychologist from the University of Washington named Dr. John Gottman explained sexual harassment like this: “Sexual harassment is a subtle rape, and rape is more about fear than sex. Harassment is a way for a man to make a woman vulnerable." Sexual harassment conducted by people in power is often viewed as a way for people to induce fear, shame, and self-blame in victims (Goleman). This is all assuming the accused are actually guilty. While reported far less often, there are reports of victims falsely accusing men to win settlements or try to gain power.
Universities are another large stakeholder Universities are institutions of higher learning where a student receives specialized education to receive a degree. A large part of many universities is research. Research can be a part of any academic discipline but is mainly associated with S.T.E.M fields. Researchers are generally, but not always, undergraduate or graduate students who are generally aged 18 to 25. This also falls into the most commonly harassed age group of 19-24 (Survey). College education also correlates with sexual harassment as shown in a survey with 45% of surveyees having a bachelor's degree, 29% of surveyees having some college education, and 19% of surveyees having a graduate degree (Survey). Universities may not appear to be an important stakeholder but the University’s entire reputation can be ruined by a sexual harassment scandal. This can cause many universities to have less than helpful responses to reports of sexual harassment. No one knows exactly how many cases of sexual harassment are reported to universities each year due to universities not being open about this issue (Harassment Victims). The universities have the job of taking these claims, which could harm the university’s reputation if the report is true or false, and figure out how to handle it.
The last stakeholder is the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Overview) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, including pregnancy, national origin, age, 40 or older, disability or genetic information (EEOC). The EEOC has the job of figuring out if sexual harassment reports brought before their attention is just slightly inappropriate teasing (which is not illegal), sexual harassment (which is illegal), or even a false report (EEOC-Sexual Harassment). As the oversight committee for sexual harassment for universities that receive funding through Title IX this places them as a large stake holder for sexual harassment in universities.
Sexual harassment, specifically in academic and research situations is a largely underrepresented issue in the United States that is just recently coming to light. The four main stakeholders in the issue of sexual assault in the scientific research field primarily in universities are: the victim, the perpetrator, the university, and the EEOC. All of these groups have different motives and responses to this issue but all are important and without any one of these groups there would be no issue. Every time the topic of sexual harassment is discussed the academic realm should be brought into consideration along with offices.
Works Cited
EEOC. "Overview." About the EEOC:. USA.gov, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
System." The Conversation. 28 Jan. 2016. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
EEOC. "Sexual Harassment." Sexual Harassment. USA.gov, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
Feminist Majority Foundation. "Sexual Harassment - Fact Sheet." Feminist Majority Foundation
Feminist Majority Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
Gewin, Virginia. "Social Behaviour: Indecent Advances." Nature 519 (n.d.): 251-53. Nature. 11
Mar. 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
Goleman, Daniel. "Sexual Harassment: It's About Power, Not Lust." The New York Times.
The New York Times, 21 Oct. 1991. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
"Harassment Victims Deserve Better." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group. Web.
19 Feb. 2016.
"Sexual Harassment." TheFreeDictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
"Survey: 1 in 3 Women Has Been Sexually Harassed at Work."Cosmopolitan. N.p., 16 Feb.
2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
Zevallos, Zuleyka. "How To Stop The Sexual Harassment Of Women In Science: Reboot The
System." The Conversation. 28 Jan. 2016. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment