Is sexual harassment against men recognized in today s workplace?

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment. When submission to or rejection of this conduct affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, the harassment should be reported.

Everyday we hear about women that feel they have been sexually harassed, but how often do we hear of men having the same type of difficulties? Although men towards women (50-67%) do the majority of sexual harassment, sexual harassment does happen to working men (15-30%). Unfortunately the laws and guidelines are often written as if sexual harassment is only a male to female thing. More than 200 men file sexual harassment charges each year with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission -- that's about one-tenth of the number of cases filed by women.

What about men harassing other men? This is another type of sexual harassment that is commonly overlooked by corporate America. Commonly this is thought to be homosexual in nature, but it is a mistake to think this is the only type of harassment. Indeed, men do a large amount of the total sexual harassment to men. But it is not necessarily homosexual, per se. That is to say, effeminate men or guys who are 'different' in some other way are often exposed to harassment and teasing much more vicious than women. In addition to outrageous verbal abuse and pranks, these guys often face assault, sabotage, and extraordinary levels of isolation.

Why are men hesitant to report sexual harassment?

[Gordon Clay, The National Men's Resource Calendar, Vol 9, No 1, 1993.]

[Gordon Clay, The National Men's Resource Calendar, Vol 9, No 1, 1993.]