WASHINGTON — Attitudes about sexual harassment in the workplace have dramatically changed during the past 20 years, according to a report by Gallup.
Currently, 69 percent of U.S. adults, up from 50 percent in 1998, describe sexual harassment in the workplace as a major problem. According to the research, women and men are almost equally likely to take sexual harassment seriously — 73 percent versus 66 percent, respectively.
About 4 in 10 women (42 percent) and 1 in 10 men (11 percent) say they have been a victim of sexual harassment.
Gallup’s report noted virtually no difference in women’s reports of being sexually harassed by age: 41 percent of those aged 18 to 49 and 44 percent of those aged 50 and older say they have been victimized.
Women are more skeptical than men about workplace harassment being taken seriously, and a majority of both women (63 percent) and men (54 percent) say people are not sensitive enough to the problem. Women surveyed also reported a greater willingness to file a sexual harassment lawsuit as a result of recent news events than in the past.
The latest findings are based on Gallup polling conducted Oct. 30–31 in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against several prominent Hollywood and media figures. (TAB)
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