NCJ Number
162501
Date Published
1996
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Following the presentation of the results of a survey of women professors regarding the prevalence and nature of sexual harassment in a work context, this chapter considers how the academic environment may both foster and inhibit the sexual harassment of women faculty.
Abstract
In 1989 the author conducted a survey of all women professors employed at her university (Purdue). A total of 210 responses were received. The findings suggest that at Purdue University sexual harassment is relatively widespread. Approximately one in four women professors claimed to have been sexually harassed while at the university, and many more claimed to have experienced a variety of behaviors, ranging from sexist comments to sexual assault. The data further show that women professors experience these behaviors from all types of participants in the academic enterprise: superiors, peers, and students. Factors in the academic environment that tend to foster sexual harassment are a hierarchical structure in which men hold the dominant positions, diffused institutional authority, the myth of collegiality, tolerance of eccentricity, and academic conservatism. Also, since academic women are typically in untenured positions, they may be perceived by more secure male peers as temporary and powerless. One significant factor that may reduce sexual harassment of faculty women is the autonomy of women academics; women professors usually do not work one-on-one with a superior; consequently, there is less dependency built into the work relationship. 1 table, appended items in the survey instrument, and 52 references