NCJ Number
220118
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 13 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2007 Pages: 879-900
Date Published
September 2007
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article provides at least a partial answer to the question of why, in the same work environment (military), some people are more accepting than others of sexual harassment.
Abstract
The findings revealed that attitudes toward women in the military differed across content domains. Both sexes had a positive belief regarding women possessing the necessary self-discipline to function effectively within the military. However, the participants were the least positive when it came to women’s ability to endure the physical hardships of military service. The findings were consistent with the hypothesis that both men and women were more accepting of women as peers and co-workers and the least accepting of them in dual military and parenting roles. The purpose of the present study was to document the attitude towards women in numerous content domains, to identify key background and military characteristics related to more positive attitudes toward women, and to analyze in a mixed gender military sample the acceptance for sexual harassment and attitudes toward women. The study used a stratified (by military service) random sample of 3,946 female and male former Reservists; of which, women were overrepresented by 59 percent (2,318). The participants were initially identified through Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) personnel records and participated in 40-minute telephone interviews. Limitations of the study are discussed. Tables, notes, and references