Many people struggle with the decision to report sexual harassment. They think their bosses won’t take their claims seriously. Or they think it might harm their career prospects.
Climbing their way out of it might seem like an option, either via gaining promotion or setting up a business themselves. Yet, research shows this will not result in immunity from sexual harassment, and it could well make it worse.
Why do women in higher positions face more sexual harassment?
The study found that women in higher positions faced more, not less, sexual harassment. Here are some theories the researchers came up with that might explain this phenomenon:
More exposure: Most people would never dream of sexually harassing you, but the more people you come into contact with, the greater the chance you encounter one who is that way inclined. As an employee, you may have gone under the radar with most people. Once you hold a senior position, many more people will know of your presence.
People see you as more of a threat: Men who struggle with women having power (which is what sexual harassment is usually about) are going to feel more threatened by you when you are in a senior position than when you were just another employee. There will be those you are now officially in charge of; those who now have to share power with you and those in the upper ranks who feel you may come for their job.
So if you can’t climb your way out of sexual harassment what can you do? The answer is to report it when it first happens, even if you are only an office junior at the time. The more people report sexual harassment, the more likely it is to disappear from workplaces. Getting help and support to go about this can help make doing so less intimidating.
