THE RESPONSES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN FIREFIGHTERS TO GENDER HARASSMENT AT WORK

The purpose of the present study is to describe the responses of African American women firefighters to sexual and gender harrassment. Surveys and interviews of 22 firefighters nationwide uncovered universal exposure to harassment. Contrary to prior studies, most of which involved white college students and white collar workers, all these firefighters used externally focused, direct response strategies. Nineteen women directly confronted the harasser; of these, ten responded agressively, including four women who countered physical harassment in kind. Their stories suggested that most found their strategy to be effective at stopping the present harassment and deterring future occurrences. While few firefighters reported positive work relations, these may have been a precursor to, rather than a result of, their direct response patterns.