Sexual Harassment and Prior Sexual Trauma Among African-American and White American Women

• NCJ Number: 155591
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1994) Pages: 233-247
• Author(s): G E Wyatt; M Riederle
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): RO1 MH 33603
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The relationship between sexual harassment in work, educational, and social settings and sexual abuse in childhood, adulthood, or both was studied in a stratified community sample of 248 black and white women in Los Angeles County (Calif.).

Abstract

The research also focused on the cumulative impact of sexual victimization on women's sense of general well-being. Results revealed that those most likely to be sexually harassed in work and social settings were women with contact sexual abuse histories, regardless of ethnicity. The work status of harassers of women with sexual abuse histories differed significantly by ethnic group. Although women with prior sexual abuse experiences from both ethnic groups most frequently reported a response to sexual harassment at work, they least often did so in social settings. A history of childhood sexual abuse was also more negatively associated with African American women's well-being than were repeated experiences of sexual violence. Findings suggested that future research should address the implications of ethnic and cultural issues on the cumulative impact of incidents of sexual violence on women of color. Tables and 43 references (Author abstract modified)