Men in the workplace may feel they do not have to worry about sexual harassment, but several male employees find themselves on the receiving end of crude comments, inappropriate touching and more. What does sexual harassment look like for men?
The Conversation explores the nuances of sexual harassment for male employees. Men must understand when their boss or other employees violate their rights.
Narrow studies
One reason that men may feel they have little to stress about regarding workplace sexual harassment is that few studies exist regarding male employees facing sexual harassment. Also, male employees may hesitate to report blatant harassment, which could skew the reality of the number of men facing mistreatment in the workplace.
Different perspective
Men and women may have differing opinions on what constitutes sexual harassment. Sometimes, actions and words that a woman perceives as harassment, a man may see as complimentary. Male employees may not feel endangered by behavior typically associated with harassment, or they may dismiss such words and actions. Company leadership may also tolerate improper behavior, which may lead to more victims.
Atypical gender roles
Male employees who do not subscribe to traditional gender roles could become more likely to experience sexual harassment. No matter a male employee’s sexual orientation, experiencing sexual harassment may result in deteriorating mental health. Feeling violated may lead to depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Victims of harassment may quit their jobs or experience problems in their professional lives.
Men and women alike should familiarize themselves with employee rights and the many faces sexual harassment may take. Proper knowledge helps purge a toxic work environment.
