Sexual Harassment Effects in the United States

Sexual Harassment Effects

Introduction to Sexual Harassment Effects

Sexual harassment often has adverse effects on the victim’s performance at work or school. Both the quantity and the quality of work may suffer, as well as the employee’s or student’s morale, attendance, and ability to work with others. Sexual harassment can cause employers losses in productivity and can lead to greater employee turnover and use of sick leave. The harassment can also harm the victim’s psychological and physical well-being. One study found 96 percent of sexual harassment victims suffer from emotional distress, and 35 percent experience physical, stress-related problems. Typical symptoms include anger, fear, anxiety, lowered self-esteem, depression, guilt, humiliation, embarrassment, nausea, fatigue, headaches, and weight gain or loss.

Sexual harassment can also have indirect effects on society. Many feminist scholars consider sexual harassment to be a form of oppression that men use to maintain male-dominated power structures. These scholars note that sexual harassment in school limits girls’ participation and impairs their academic achievement. Similarly, women in fields of work that men have traditionally occupied-such as the military, law enforcement, and fire fighting-experience higher rates of sexual harassment. Some researchers assert that regardless of whether harassment is an intentional attempt to oppress girls and women, it contributes to lower achievement by women in society.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Sexual Harassment Effects in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Sexual Harassment Effects