Paradox Of Power And Gender In The Workplace

Topic: The Role of Power and Gender in Workplace Harassment

Part B

McLaughlin, H. et al (2012). Sexual Harassment, Workplace Authority and the Paradox of Power. American Sociological Review, 77(4), 625-647.

This study used the Youth Development Study to examine three hypotheses; whether women who hold authoritative power are frequently harassed, whether nonconformity of gender was linked to increased risks of harassment, and that there will be an increase of sexual harassment in male-dominated workplaces. Their aim was to get a better understanding of how and why gender, sex and power influence harassment in the workplace. They examined how often the harassing behaviours were reported, and whether the victim saw the experience

The females with authority were more likely to define these instances and behaviours as sexual harassment, perhaps due to education and knowledge. A large amount of females who perceived themselves as being feminine were less likely to report harassment; as a result, the relationship between femininity and harassment was significantly less than the relationship between authority and sex. Females with authority in male-dominated workplaces experienced more harassment than women with authority in female-dominated workplaces. The power of co-workers was more influenced by gender than ranking even when the female supervisor’s power was legitimate. Both males and females were more likely to be harassed in male-dominated workplaces because it was a way to enforce “gender-appropriate behaviour” (ie. Women don’t belong at the top, this isn’t a place for women, guys don’t act that way).

Uggen, C & Blackstone A (2004). Sexual Harassment as a Gendered Expression of Power. American Sociological Review, 69(1),

They examine the effect gender, chaos and disorganized workplaces and the creation of teams have on general and sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment happened under three themes; men maintaining their power by harassing and belittling women, men enforcing the belief that women do not belong in higher positions of companies or in certain job fields, and lastly, males in a male-dominated workplace may feel threatened by a women and therefore harass her. General harassment comes in the form of hostile behaviours that are intended to cause harm on the target such as dirty looks, rude comments, exclusion and physical or verbal violence. The similarities between both types are they’re the result of enforcing or obtaining, power, they both happen in physically demanding workplaces, and both affect minorities. General harassment is usually the result of chaos and disorganization in the workplace, job insecurity and minority status. Sexual harassment is usually the result of being a female or minority, and the physicality of the harasser. However, creating teams in the company to encourage communication, teamwork and working closely with one another can lessen the effects of sexual