c.T4 Sexual Harassment Experiences of University Employees: Actions Taken and Satisfaction with the Outcome

This study explored the experiences of sexual harassment among women employees in a university setting, in particular the extent to which women perceived that the strategies which they chose to handle situations of sexual harassment resulted in satisfaction with the outcome. Data were collected via an anonymous mail questionnaire at a mid-sized Midwestern public university. Incidence rates were similar to those reported at other universities. Common strategies used by all three groups of women in dealing with the situations were: (1) to ignore the behavior; (2) to avoid the individual; and (3) to confront the individual. Few womcn reported making formal complaints. Women who were more bothered by 'the incident were also more likely to report using an active strategy. Women who dealt with the situation by using avoidance or talking informally with a university official tended to be dissatisfied with the outcome. Stepwise regression analysis found that the extent to which women were bothered by the incident of harassment, feared retaliation, and felt that the incident interfered with their work, were significant predictors of the extent of their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the situation. Contains 22 references. (Author/JB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document