Sexual Harassment Support
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Support and information for anyone who has experienced sexual harassment.
Myths and Misconceptions about Sexual Harassment
Myth: Some people ask to be sexually harassed. They do this with how they dress, or how they act. They
send "signals."
Reality: Being subjected to sexual harassment is a painful, difficult, and frequently traumatic experience.
Defenses such as "she wore provocative clothes" and "he enjoyed it" are neither acceptable nor
accurate.
Myth: If a person really wanted to discourage, or stop, sexual harassment, they could.
Reality: Often, the harasser is in a position to punish the recipient by withholding a promotion, giving a
bad evaluation, or giving a low grade. In this society, men are known to rationalize their actions by saying
that a women's "no" is really a "yes."
Myth: Most charges of sexual harassment are false.
Reality: People have nothing to gain from making false accusations and filing false charges. It is very
difficult to file sexual harassment charges, and "the system" can be very hostile to accusers.
Confronting the issue can be both physically and financially draining. Usually, victims are traumatized
further by the entire process.
Myth: If you ignore sexually harassing behavior, it will eventually stop.
Reality: In a recent survey, only 29% of the women who said they tried to ignore the behavior said that it
"made things better." Over 61% of the women said that telling the harasser to stop was the most
effective method.
Myth: Only women are sexually harassed, this does not happen to men; and all sexual harassment
perpetrators are male.
Reality: While women continue to be the majority of sexual harassment recipients, men do get
harassed--by other men and by women. Currently, approximately 11% of EEOC claims involve men filing
grievances against female supervisors. Also, increasing numbers of women are being sexually
harassed by other women.
Myth: The seriousness of sexual harassment is exaggerated; most "harassment" is really minor, and
involves harmless flirtation.
Reality: Sexual harassment can be devastating. Studies indicate that most harassment has nothing to
do with "flirtation: or sincere sexual or social interest on the part of the perpetrators. And it is offensive,
often frightening and insulting, to the victims. Research shows that victims must often to leave school or
jobs to avoid harassment. Many experience serious psychological and health-related problems. They
may even be forced to relocate to other cities. (See Ellsion Vs. Brady and the "Reasonable Woman"
Standard )
Myth: We live in modern times, and sexual harassment is becoming less of a problem.
Reality: Sexual harassment effects 40 to 60 percent of working women, with similar statistics for
female students in colleges and universities. 10-20% of men have experienced sexual harassment in
the workplace. Approximately 15,000 sexual harassment cases are brought to the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) each year.
Myth: Sexual harassment is inevitable when people are working together.
Reality: While interactions between people may be inevitable, uninvited sexual overtures are not.
Myth: An harasser has to have sexual intentions towards their target for the behavior to count as sexual
harassment
Reality: Sexual harassment is a form of abuse, most commonly an abuse of power. Any unwanted
sexual attention constitutes sexual harassment. The harasser's rationale does not change this fact.
(See Oncale V. Sundowner )
Myth: Sexual harassment policies and legislation encourage a fear of sex, and demonizes behavior
that is really normal between people.
Reality: Sexual harassing behavior may be common, but it is not "normal." Sexual harassment is not
about sex, at the core of the problem is abuse, particularly the abuse of power and authority. One would
never say that racist acts are "normal," yet they are common, and are as harmful as sexual harassment.
The issue is one of treating people with respect and dignity. That this does not always occur may be
common, and may be human nature, but it is not "normal."
Sources: 2, 3,14, 43, 44
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