NCJ Number
164286
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The author contends that all forms of sexual harassment share important commonalities with rape; while sexual harassment is usually less physically intrusive and less violent or life- threatening, it is not substantially different structurally or socially from rape.
Abstract
The conceptual framework laid out by the author defines both rape and sexual harassment as sexual assaults on a continuum of sexual exploitation that varies in degree of physical intrusion and potential physical injury to the victim. At the pole of the least physically violent, this continuum begins with verbal assaults, including sexually offensive jokes or degrading comments. At the pole of the most physically violent, the continuum ends with rape, murder, and femicide. The continuum perspective facilitates using the extensive literature on rape victimization and recovery to gain insights into and understanding of sexual harassment and survivor reactions. Major commonalities underlying the continuum are identified as power dynamics, gender roles and relationships, offender characteristics, cultural stereotyping, emotional reactions of victims, and costs to survivors. Several approaches and guidance to resolving the effects of sexual harassment are suggested: (1) cast the sexual harassment experience as a sexual assault and recognize its effects; (2) find others with similar experiences and share stories; (3) recognize the personal losses of sexual assault and allow a grieving process; and (4) join or form a feminist network and support group to prevent future traumas. 54 references and 3 notes