THE ROLE OF GENDER AND ORGANISATIONAL POWER IN PERCEPTIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN A UNIVERSITY CONTEXT

Abstract

Though sexual harassment is detrimental to all victims, research has suggested it is taken more seriously when male superiors harass female subordinates. This study investigated the roles of harasser-target gender (male-female, male-male, female-female, or female-male) and organisational power dyad (professor-student or student-professor) on perceptions of two types of sexual harassment (seductive behaviour and sexual coercion). Male-female and professor-student scenarios were hypothesised to be perceived as more harassing than female-male and student-professor ones, with larger differences for seductive behaviour than sexual coercion scenarios. 259 participants, mostly Singaporeans (Mage = 23.91), completed an online questionnaire derived from the Perceptions of Sexual Harassment Questionnaire (Fitzgerald & Ormerod, 1991). Three-way mixed ANOVA showed that seductive behaviour and sexual coercion were perceived as similarly harassing across all gender dyads. More harassment was perceived in professor-student than student-professor scenarios (F = 13.23, p < .001, dRj = 0.36), and in sexual coercion than seductive behaviour scenarios (F = 275.88, p < .001, dRj = 1.46). There were no significant interactions. The findings suggest perceived gender equality in universities, and increased awareness of sexual harassment of men and same-sex harassment. Results also suggest that student-professor sexual harassment may be minimised, indicating a need to better protect professors.