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Outcomes of self-labeling sexual harassment
V J Magley1, C L Hulin, L F Fitzgerald
1Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. vmagley@wppost.depaul.edu
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|June 25, 1999
Summary
Many women experience unwelcome sex-related behaviors at work but do not label it sexual harassment. This study found that the psychological, health, and work outcomes are similar regardless of whether the experience is labeled as harassment.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Organizational Behavior
- Women's Health
Background:
- A consistent gap exists between experiencing offensive sex-related behaviors and identifying them as sexual harassment.
- Understanding this discrepancy is crucial for addressing workplace harassment effectively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the psychological reasons behind the underreporting of sexual harassment.
- To examine the impact of self-labeling unwelcome sex-related experiences on employee outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from female employees across three distinct organizations.
- Analysis focused on the consequences of unwelcome, sex-related behaviors, comparing outcomes based on self-labeling.
Main Results:
- Women exposed to offensive sex-related behaviors reported similar psychological, health, and work-related consequences.
- The labeling of experiences as "sexual harassment" did not significantly alter the reported outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The psychological and health impacts of workplace sexual misconduct are significant, irrespective of formal labeling.
- Future research should move beyond descriptive approaches to explore the effects of labeling on employee well-being and organizational dynamics.