Abstract
The sexual harassment of junior, senior, and graduate student women and men by male and female professors, graduate assistants, and staff was investigated to determine students' personal experiences in the classroom, outside the classroom, and in job-related settings. Usable survey responses were returned by 393 students, and incidents were detailed by 38 women and 9 men who noted their responses to the harassment and its effects. Attitudes toward and acceptance of sexually harassing behaviors were measured by a 10-item Tolerance for Sexual Harassment Inventory (TSHI). The frequency of initiation of sexual behaviors was also assessed. More women than men reported being sexually harassed. Male and female perceptions of classroom behaviors were in agreement for most items. Men and women differed significantly on the TSHI, with men more tolerant of sexual harassment than women, and highly significant age differences were found, indicating a greater acceptance of sexual harassment by younger students. There was little difference between male and female students in the frequency of their initiating sexual behaviors. The TSHI was assessed; reliability coefficients and a factor analysis are presented.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander v. Yale University. Fed. 2d (2 Cir.. 1980) Docket #79-7547.
Associated Students University of Washington Women's Commission. Sexual harassment: A survey of women students. The University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. 1982. (Mimeo)
Benson, D. J., & Thomson, G. Sexual harassment on a university campus: The confluence of authority relations, sexual interest and gender stratification. Social Problems, 1982, 29, 236–251.
Benson, K. A. Comment on Crocker's “An analysis of university definitions of sexual harassment.” SIGNS, 1984, 9, 516–519.
Carlson, N., Quina, K., & Temple, H. Sexual harassment and assault: Myth and reality. The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R.I., 1982.
Chateauvert, M. Study of sexual harassment of students: An analysis of status, conditions, and effects. The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IO, 1981. (Mimeo)
Dzeich, B., & Weiner, L. The Lecherous Professor. Boston: Beacon Press, 1984.
Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. Sexual Harassment: A growing Issue on Campus. July 28, 1980, 9–12.
Everywoman's Center. Results of sexual violence survey. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass., 1980. (Mimeo)
Farley, L. Sexual Shakedown: The sexual harassment of women on the job. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978.
Field, A. Harassment on campus: Sex in a tenurated position? Ms. September 1981, 68–73f.
Hall, R. M., & Sandler, B. R. The classroom climate: A chilly one for women? Washington, D.C.: Project on the Status and Education of Women, Association of American Colleges, 1982.
Hall, R. M., & Sandler, B. R. Out of the classroom: A chilly campus climate for women? Washington, D.C.: Project on the Status and Education of Women, Association of American Colleges, 1984.
Kottke, J. L. Conditions of and students' attitudes toward sexual harassment. Paper presented at the Iowa/Midwest Regional Women's Studies Association Conference, 1981.
Lewis, D., DiStefano, A., & Levin, J. A report on sexual harassment at Washington University. Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1981. (Mimeo)
Lott, B., Reilly, M. E., & Howard, D. Sexual assault and harassment: A campus community case study. SIGNS, 1982, 8, 296–319.
MacKinnon, C. Sexual harassment of working women. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1979.
Metha, A., & Nigg, J. Sexual harassment on campus: An institutional response. Journal of the National Association for Women Deans, Administrators, and Counselors, 1983, 46, 9–15.
Oshinsky, J. Sexual harassment of women students in higher education. Dissertation Abstracts International, 1981.
Pope, K. S., Levenson, H., & Schover, L. R. Sexual intimacy in psychology training. American Psychologist, 1979, 34, 682–689.
Project on the Status and Education of Women. Sexual harassment and employees. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges, Summer, 1980, 14.
Rowland, D. L., Crisler, L. J., & Cox, D. J. Flirting between college students and faculty. The Journal of Sex Research, 1982, 18, 346–359.
Safran, C. What men do to women on the job. Redbook, March 1976, 45–51.
Wilson, K. R., & Kraus, L. A. Sexual harassment in the university. Paper presented at the American Sociological Association, 1981.
Working Women's Institute. Testimony of Working Women's Institute and the Women's Legal Defense Fund before the Subcommittee and Labor Management Relations of the House Committee on Education and Labor on Pressures in the Workplace. December 6, 1979.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by a grant from the College of Arts and Sciences. We are grateful to Betty Jones and Joan Bentley for their secretarial assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reilly, M.E., Lott, B. & Gallogly, S.M. Sexual harassment of university students. Sex Roles 15, 333–358 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287976
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287976