What Are Some Reasons Why Men Sexually Harass Women in the Workplace?

Over the last year or so, sexual harassment has become a widely recognized issue that although has been going on for years, is finally getting the attention it needs. While both men and women can and have been accused of sexual harassment, data has revealed that men are predominately the ones to initiate an inappropriate act. But why? What causes men to continue to engage in behavior that constitutes as sexual harassment?

Although there are multiple responses to that answer, three psychologists have their own theories that explain what motivates men to harass women in the workplace [Source: CNBC]. We share with you what these theories are below.

1. According to Shawn Burn, Ph.D., who is a psychology professor at California Polytechnic State University, men sometimes engage in harassment to “intimidate, disempower, and discourage women in traditionally male-dominated occupations.” In other words, they “perform such inappropriate behavior in an effort to protect their occupational territory.” Certain fields that are known to be male-dominated include the military, tech, and politics. And because for an extended period of time, nothing was done when a female counterpart would report a case of sexual harassment, it only encouraged their male counterparts to continue to display the inappropriate behavior that we now link to sexual harassment.
2. Burn also expressed that men who work in a culture that “reduces women to sexualized objects” where their “physical appearance plays a role” in the job they do sometimes use this as “permission to process and react to these women not as people, but as fantasy sex objects without personal sexual boundaries.” However, regardless of what industry a woman works in, Burn states that “it is important for men to know that no female ever signs up to be sexually harassed or assaulted.”
3. According to clinical psychologist David Ley, “there are intense issues of entitlement and power and control that have gone unchecked that lead to situations where men feel it’s perfectly fine to engage in these kinds of behaviors.” For example, someone that holds a significant amount of power who can make or break a person’s career might fit into this theory as they know their potential and what they can do for someone who hasn’t quite achieved the same things they have but can give them the opportunity to do so.
4. Clinical psychologist Ben Michaelis says that some men experience exhibitionistic disorder that “involves exposing one’s genitals or sexual organs to a non-consenting person.” Many actresses have come forward with complaints involving such behavior although no actor has been ruled to have this disorder as of yet.

Are you a victim of workplace sexual harassment and need help filing a claim? If so, contact a sexual harassment attorney in Houston today who will be more than happy to help you with this.

Now, despite what might drive a man to subject a woman to workplace sexual harassment, the fact is, it is inappropriate and unacceptable. And if ever you find that you are working in an unhealthy environment located in Houston, TX where your boss, a coworker, or another employer engages in any type of behavior toward you that you did not consent to, you should report it. Although your human resources department should be able to provide you with the help that you need, not always will your allegations be taken seriously. In the event these are the circumstances you are dealing with, then it is time to contact a sexual harassment lawyer in Houston, TX.

The sexual misconduct attorneys at  Moore & Associates are available 24/7 and will provide you with a free case evaluation to help you better understand what your next steps should be and if you need to retain a legal representative to help you take them.

 

Moore & Associates can be reached at:

440 Louisiana Street, Suite 675

Houston, TX 77002

713-222-6775