Cyberstalking:a case study concerning sexual harassment in the UK

This paper presents the first academic case study of a UK cyberstalking incident that involved an individual known to have harassed at least four victims. The case study describes how the harasser selected victims, his use of technology to gather confidential information about them and his use of multiple personalities as part of the process of harassment. The discussion section of the paper raises a broad range of issues, including whether the case represents a genuine cyberstalking incident, how technology was used to assist the harasser's activities and how the harasser attempted to avoid detection

Sexual harassment of Miami-Dade County Public School students by school personnel

The purpose of this research was to assess the type and extent of sexual harassment of Miami-Dade County Public School (M-DCPS) students by school employees. In addition, the school system's existing procedures for handling such harassment were investigated, including students' awareness of and willingness to follow such procedures.^ Over 500 seniors from fourteen high schools around the county completed surveys which asked them to indicate whether or not they had received training on the topic of sexual harassment, whether or not they were aware of their school's policy on sexual harassment, whether or not they would feel comfortable reporting an incident of sexual harassment, whether or not they had experienced various forms of sexual harassment, and if they had been harassed, whether or not they reported the incident to a school official.^ Results indicated that sexual harassment of M-DCPS students by school employees is widespread, and the procedures that are currently in place to deal with this harassment are ineffective. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of the sample population indicated that a school employee had sexually harassed them; however, only four percent (4%) reported the incident to a school official. Responses indicated that this discrepancy exists because few students have received any training, few are aware of their schools' policies, and few are comfortable with the existing reporting procedures. ^

The boundaries of acceptance: Do expectations for the complainant's psychological injury affect legal decisions in a sexual harassment case

Research indicates that people engaged in legal decision-making use a host of biases and preconceptions to guide their decisions about whether the evidence presented to them is reasonable. However, few theories address how such expectations affect legal decision-makers. The present study attempted to determine if social judgment theory (SJT) can explain how and when legal decision-makers rely on expectations for the complainant's psychological injury in a hostile environment sexual harassment case. Two experiments provided undergraduate participants with a written summary of a hostile work environment allegation that first manipulated participants' expectations about reasonable psychological injuries (mild v. severe), and then presented them with actual severity levels of psychological injury (ranging from minimal to extreme). Experiment 1 (N = 295) hypothesized and found that participants who expected severe injuries perceived a greater range of psychological injuries to be reasonable than participants expecting mild injury. Experiment 2 ( N = 202) used similar methodology and investigated whether perceived reasonableness for the injury allegations affected legal decisions. Experiment 2 hypothesized that participants expecting severe psychological injury should render more pro-complainant decisions than participants expecting mild psychological injury. This result should be most pronounced when participants receive a moderate injury allegation, since this allegation was perceived as reasonable by participants expecting severe injury, but unreasonable by participants expecting mild injury. Consistent with SJT, participants who received a moderate injury but expected a severe injury found more liability than participants who received a moderate injury but expected a mild injury. Inconsistent with SJT, participants' expectations did not affect their compensatory damage decisions. In fact, more severe injury allegations increased damage awards regardless of participants' expectations. Although the results provide mixed support for applying SJT to legal decisions in sexual harassment cases, they emphasize the continuing role of oft-unstudied extra-legal factors (juror's expectations and psychological injury severity) on legal decisions.

Sexual Harassment:A Long-Dormant Demon

Because of its service nature, the hospitality industry is especially prone to cases of sexual harassment in the workplace, particularly from female employees. The author discusses Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the legal and moral implications of its guidelines for the industry.

Women demonstrate against sexual harassment in the arts and theatre

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

A proposal for a corresponsible intervention on sexual harassment at work

Sexual harassment at work is a form of gender violence barely made visible but still present in labor organizations, where it keeps generating high levels of suffering, discrimination and inequality mainly affecting women. To address it properly it is necessary an organizational change towards equity arising from the knowledge of the subjective meanings that stakeholders (staff, union representatives, employers, public administration, etc.) attribute to that reality. In this article we present the main findings of a qualitative study on the social perception of sexual harassment. The work highlights the existence of many strategies aimed at legitimize and minimize the relevance of the problem, blaming the victim, justifying the lack of support from the environment and / or the involvement of the organization in the solutions. Among the conclusions we underline the need for new models of business management involving all stakeholders in the prevention and control of the in a responsible way.

Cyclists' experiences of harassment from motorists : findings from a survey of cyclists in Queensland, Australia

Objective Harassment from motorists is a major constraint on cycling that has been under-researched. We examined incidence and correlates of harassment of cyclists. Methods Cyclists in Queensland, Australia were surveyed in 2009 about their experiences of harassment while cycling, from motor vehicle occupants. Respondents also indicated the forms of harassment they experienced. Logistic regression modeling was used to examine gender and other correlates of harassment. Results Of 1830 respondents, 76% of men and 72% of women reported harassment in the previous 12 months. The most reported forms of harassment were driving too close (66%), shouting abuse (63%), and making obscene gestures/sexual harassment (45%). Older age, overweight/obesity, less cycling experience (< 2 years) and less frequent cycling (< 3 days/week) were associated with less likelihood of harassment, while living in highly advantaged areas (SEIFA deciles 8 or 9), cycling for recreation, and cycling for competition were associated with increased likelihood of harassment. Gender was not associated with reports of harassment. Conclusions Efforts to decrease harassment should include a closer examination of the circumstances that give rise to harassment, as well as fostering road environments and driver attitudes and behaviors that recognize that cyclists are legitimate road users.

“Deficient in love-interest”: the sexual politics of the office in Canadian fiction (1890-1920)

Con base en las preocupaciones de la época sobre la susceptibilidad al romance y acoso sexual de la trabajadora de oficina, este artículo propone explorar la representación de secretarias y taquígrafas en TheType-Writer Girl (1897), de Grant Allan, y en North of Fifty-Three (1914), de Bertrand Sinclair. Se mirará la presión para adquirir la independencia económica y autonomía personal a través del trabajo en oficina. También, la necesidad de ajustarse a ideologías presentes en la sociedad, que abogaban un destino predeterminado de matrimonio e hijos para la mujer. Se pregunta si el género de literatura workinggirl de esos tiempos abogaba la imagende la mujer independiente, trabajadora y emocionalmente realizada, o si el trabajo de oficina era interpretado como un paso natural hacia una evolución de niñas a madres. Este artículo también cuestiona si la oficina ficcional fue presentada como una ubicación de autonomía y potencial femeninos, o si fue vista como un espacio hostil y peligroso del que debería escapar lo más pronto posible para mantener la seguridad del hogar.

Assédio Sexual nas Organizações e aplicação prática da Legislação : análise de Casos Reais

O assédio sexual deveria transformar-se numa preocupação, permanente para os médicos, advogados, magistrados, psicólogos, sociólogos, gestores de recursos humanos, administradores e diretores de empresas, e a sociedade em geral, de forma a manter os valores morais e profissionais. A sociedade atual preocupa-se muito mais com a ostentação de valores materiais visíveis, sendo o assédio sexual considerado como algo oculto, que as vítimas tentam esconder. A maioria das mulheres não denuncia o assédio sexual por vários medos, que alternam entre as represálias ou retaliações, de serem rebaixadas, de perderem o emprego, - já que dependem desse para sobreviver - de serem transferidas, de se expor ao ridículo frente aos colegas, familiares e amigas, de perderem a carta de referência, etc. Habitualmente, têm muitas dificuldades em falar, não só porque revivem algo desagradável que as incomoda psicologicamente, mas também porque não acreditam que existam recursos para tratar de maneira eficaz e eficiente o problema que as afeta dramaticamente.

Percepções de mães e crianças das relações familiares permeadas por violência sexual do pai contra a filha: análise de variáveis

Pós-graduação em Psicologia do Desenvolvimento e Aprendizagem - FC

Sexual haressement in dentistry: prevalence in dental school

OBJECTIVE: Sexual harassment is unlawful in all work and educational environments in most nations of the world. The goals of this study were to describe the sexual harassment prevalence and to evaluate the experiences and attitudes of undergraduate students in one dental school in Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An 18-item questionnaire was administered to 254 dental students with a completion rate of 82% (208). Students were requested to respond to questions about their background and academic level in dental school, their personal experiences with sexual harassment and their observation of someone else being sexually harassed. Bivariate statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: Fifteen percent of the students reported being sexually harassed by a patient, by a relative of a patient or by a professor. Male students had 3 times higher probability of being sexually harassed than female student [OR=2.910 (1.113-7.611)]. Additionally, 25.4% of the students reported witnessing sexual harassment at the school environment. The majority of students did not feel professionally prepared to respond to unwanted sexual behaviors. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that sexual harassment can occur in a dental school setting. There is a need for ongoing sexual harassment education programs for students and university staff. Increased knowledge of sexual harassment during graduation can better prepare dental professionals to respond to sexual harassment during their practice.

The Impact of Sexual Boundary Violations in Supervision and Therapy: A Qualitative Study of a Trainee's First-Hand Account

This study involves a qualitative analysis of a doctoral-level psychology trainee's first-hand account of sexual attraction and boundary violations that occurred in her clinical supervision and psychotherapy. Concepts of power, gender, social performance theory, and relational framing are applied to two case examples, illustrating the differing demands on a trainee when her relationships were sexualized in two distinct professional contexts. Ramifications of supervisory exploitation and the impact of such an experience on a trainee's professional development are discussed. Recommendations are provided for improving psychology training programs' prevention and response efforts.

Street harassment demonstration

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Street harassment demonstration

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Women demonstrate against street harassment

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.