NCJ Number
164424
Editor(s)
K L Swisher
Date Published
1995
Length
91 pages
Annotation
Six chapters argue for current legal efforts to enforce broad definitions of "sexual harassment" in both the workplace and in academic institutions; five chapters argue that current definitions of "sexual harassment" are too broad and have no place in the legal arena as a means of coercing behavior in the workplace or an academic institution.
Abstract
The chapters that support current trends in efforts to deter sexual harassment in the workplace and academic institutions favor a broad-based standard that would punish persons who engage in sexually related behavior that would offend a "reasonable woman" so as to make her work environment a hostile place to work. Advocates of such a standard that can be enforced by the courts and administrative agencies is deemed essential in order to mitigate the psychological, physical, and possible financial debilitation that a person (predominantly women) may suffer as a result of sexually oriented behavior in a work or learning environment. In a contrasting perspective, a number of chapters argue that current definitions of "sexual harassment" are so broad and subjective that it is unclear what behavior is being mandated or deterred. One author reasons that sexual behavior that does not involve either violence or physical coercion should not be subject to legal action. Other sexually offensive behavior should be addressed by other than legal means. Some of the authors argue that current broad definitions of "sexual harassment" serve to undermine both the work environment and the academic learning environment, as men become anxious about their behavior vis-a-vis women to the point of limited and formal communication. This hinders productivity for businesses and a relaxed and innovative environment for learning. For individual chapters, see NCJ-164425-35. Chapter references, a 51-item bibliography, and a subject index