Gender, race, age, and seniority all affect who’s harassed and how.
April 23, 2019
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If your company approaches sexual misconduct with one-size-fits-all solutions, you probably aren’t protecting some of the most vulnerable workers. The experiences of women of color—and of men of color—are at risk of being misunderstood and undervalued. Looking further into sexual harassment research shows a more complex story than the typical senior male harassing a junior female. For instance, nearly one in three Asian women and one in four black women who have experienced sexual harassment were harassed by a junior colleague. 23% of black women say the harassment came from another women. One in 5 black men have been harassed by a colleague (usually female). But there are some intersectional solutions to these problems. Use technology to allow for truly confidential reporting. Update your training to include creative approaches like bystander training and opportunities for male allyship. Take action to prevent sexual misconduct across gender, race, and hierarchy.
