The sexual harassment of uppity women.
In 3 studies, the author tested 2 competing views of sexual harassment: (a) It is motivated primarily by sexual desire and, therefore, is directed at women who meet feminine ideals, and (b) it is motivated primarily by a desire to punish gender-role deviants and, therefore, is directed at women who violate feminine ideals. Study 1 included male and female college students (N = 175) and showed that women with relatively masculine personalities (e.g., assertive, dominant, and independent) experienced the most sexual harassment. Study 2 (N = 134) showed that this effect was not because women with relatively masculine personalities were more likely than others to negatively evaluate potentially harassing scenarios. Study 3 included male and female employees at 5 organizations (N = 238) and showed that women in male-dominated organizations were harassed more than women in female-dominated organizations, and that women in male-dominated organizations who had relatively masculine personalities were sexually harassed the most.
Berdahl
Jennifer L
JL
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. jberdahl@rotman.utoronto.ca
D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013240:Stereotyping