Many victims still silent on sexual misconduct despite furor
A spate of recent public revelations, including the spontaneous #metoo discussions on social media, is emboldening many victims of sexual harassment to speak up, but many still remain silent.
Up to 85 per cent of women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace and many men as well according to a report released in 2016 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Common responses to harassment include: avoiding the harasser, downplaying the gravity of the situation or attempting to ignore or endure the behaviour. The least common response? Taking formal action — either reporting their harassment internally or by filing a formal complaint. In fact, 70 per cent of men or women who experienced workplace harassment “never even talked with a supervisor, manager or union representative about it,” according to the EEOC report.
The Associated Press spoke to several experts about why this sexual misconduct in the workplace is still underreported: