Factors on Case Incidence of Sexual Harassment in Company X in Relation to Power

Abstract

Sexual harassment is against the law. In general, sexual harassment can be defined as any unwelcome sexual behavior or advances which could make a person feel offended, humiliated, disgusted, or intimidated. 26 Sexual Harassment cases from years 2009-2014 were procured from Company X to determine the factors on incidence of sexual harassment in relation to power. In addition, identifying which types of employees are perceived to be vulnerable victims, and determining whether sexual harassment is used as a tool to police appropriate ways of doing gender in the workplace are also objectives of the analysis. From the cases were found that those who were observed to be having both achieved and ascribed power (e.g., males in the supervisorial position) had the more tendencies to commit sexual harassment over their younger, and relatively new to the office, subordinates. It was also explicated from the cases that vulnerable workers (i.e., females new to the workplace, females having the least workplace authority, single moms, and effeminate or gay men) are subjected to a higher chance of being victims of sexual harassment. Lastly, it was concluded that sexual harassment is used as a tool to police unconventional ways of doing gender in the workplace and to penalize gender non conformity as supported by the Power Threat model and the Hegemonic Masculinity theory.