SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF WOMEN MANAGERS

Our research examines the connection between sexual harassment and other sex discrimination experiences of a sample of women within managerial and professional occupations. In this research, 257 women MBAs were surveyed over a seven-year period. Women who experienced early discrimination were likely to have experienced discrimination, including sexual harassment seven years later, However, slightly more than one-third of the women reporting sexual harassment report never experiencing discrimination. A variety of correlates of sexual harassment and discrimination experiences were also examined. Our findings suggest that some women do not perceive their experience with sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination, yet experiences of discrimination and harassment negatively affect work attitudes for women. These findings support the notion of sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination that contributes to a hostile and intimidating work environment.