Workplace Violence In the USA: Are There Gender Differences? (From Violence at Work: Causes, Patterns and Prevention, P 90-113, 2002, Martin Gill, Bonnie Fisher, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-193122)

• NCJ Number: 193128
• Author(s): Shannon A. Santana; Bonnie S. Fisher
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 24 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book (Hardbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This chapter provides an overview of what research has found regarding gender-related workplace violence issues in the United States.

Abstract

The chapter first describes the extent and nature of workplace violence incidents committed against male and female employees. Three studies that used the data from the 1987-92, 1992-94, and 1992-96 Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) found a similar pattern in the extent of workplace violence; on average, violent incidents committed against male employees outnumbered violent incidents committed against female employees. The chapter compares and contrasts workplace violence committed against female and male employees in terms of its motives and impacts. Studies have shown that although males have higher rates of workplace homicide victimization than females, homicide is the leading cause of death for females in the workplace, but not for males. Studies have found that homicides have ranged from 10-30 percent of the work-related injury deaths for males compared to 40-57 percent of such deaths for women. Results from the NCVS have shown that males were more likely than females to be victims of robbery while at work or on duty, but data from the NCVS for 1992-96 revealed that approximately 42,000 rapes and sexual assaults were reported during each of these years as having occurred to females while they were working or on duty. This chapter also provides gender-related workplace data on stalking, "cyberaggression" (communication via the Internet), and aggravated and simple assaults. Studies have also found gender difference in workplace violence by job characteristics and occupation. Also discussed in this chapter are gender differences in the relationship between the victim and offender, gender differences in motives behind workplace violence, and gender differences in the impacts of workplace violence. Overall, this literature analysis suggests that gender differences more than gender similarities characterize workplace violence. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the implications for security and violence prevention efforts, including current efforts to prevent violence in the workplace. Suggestions for future research are also offered. 107 notes