Can Men Be Victims of Sexual Harassment?
When the topic of sexual harassment is discussed, most people picture a woman being touched without consent or the subject of sexual jokes. In fact, these types of situations are exactly what are described in sexual harassment seminars, with the victims of such behavior encouraged to seek out help. However, men may also be victims of sexual harassment. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports that in 2013, 15% of reports of sexual harassment came from men. The number is expected to be much larger, but many men are afraid or unaware that they can speak up.
What is Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
Sexual harassment is defined as requests for sexual favors, unwanted sexual advances, or verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature. It can be obvious behavior like derogatory remarks that center around gender or more obvious harassment such as touching someone without their consent or pressuring someone to go on a date. Men that belong to a sexual minority or tend to advocate for females are more likely to suffer from sexual harassment because of not fitting the stereotypical ‘masculine’ role. However, heterosexual males also report sexual harassment, as anyone can be a victim.
In general, sexual harassment tends to fall into one of three categories: gender harassment, sexual coercion, and unwanted sexual attention. Gender harassment is when hostile behavior is exhibited towards the victim based on their gender alone. Oftentimes it can masquerade as off-color jokes that are offense but in reality, are mocking or violent. As the name implies unwanted sexual attention is when sexual advances are made at a male worker that are unwanted or offensive. Common examples include pressuring for a date or sexually based touching. Sexual coercion is when a threat or bribe related to your job position is made in exchange for entering a sexual relationship with another co-worker.
Why Don’t Men Speak Up?
There are a variety of reasons why men don’t speak up. Most of them have to do with the idea that men are supposed to be “manly” and thus harassment is treated as a compliment instead of unwanted attention. Outside of being “manly”, there is a stigma attached to sexual harassment and many men don’t want to be subjected to even more harassment sparked by reporting the first instance of sexual harassment. Finally, many men view sexual harassment as less threatening than their female colleagues would, and thus are less likely to speak up about the matter choosing to wait for it to pass instead.
However, many men who choose not to report sexual harassment still have to deal with the impact on their mental health. Men who have dealt with sexual harassment are more likely to develop depression and anxiety which can lead them to substance abuse.
How Can a Male Report Sexual Harassment?
If you are a male facing sexual harassment at work it is important that you speak up and report your complaint to your supervisor. Employers are obligated by law to investigate every sexual harassment complaint that is made, and that includes both male and female complaints. If your supervisor is the one harassing you, then you should go to the human resources department and speak to them about the process of filing a sexual harassment complaint within the company.
Victims should be aware that there are deadlines for reporting sexual harassment complaints after the incident occurs. Some wait too long to file a complaint because they are uncomfortable with the idea of speaking up. If you do not file a complaint in a timely manner your employer may no longer be obligated to investigate or act. This will eliminate the option of seeking legal restitution for the matter in the future.
What Can You Do if Your Company is Ignoring your Report?
As stated earlier, employers must investigate all sexual harassment complaints, but some supervisors and their companies may choose to ignore your complaint. If this is the case, you should immediately seek out legal representation. It is improper for a company to ignore sexual harassment. You should not have to continue to work in an unsafe or unpleasant work environment because of their failure to take appropriate action. We have experienced sexual harassment attorneys that have worked with many victims of sexual harassment that can help you navigate your legal rights so that you can be safe and respected at work.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/media-spotlight/201505/when-men-face-sexual-harassment
https://www.plbsh.com/yes-men-can-be-sexually-harassed-in-the-workplace/