Posted by denised in 
A new study conducted by the University of Connecticut finds that women who witness the sexual harassment of other women develop a desire to “move away” from men as a group. The phenomenon, known as “bystander sexism”, means that women who witness harassment tend to experience anger towards men in general and be more wary of being approached by men they don’t know. In other words, men who sexually harass women may be screwing things up for the good guys out there.
So aside from putting a damper on a man’s game, what are the potential consequences of “bystander sexism” in the workplace? For one, men feel frustration at being unable to approach women in a way that won’t be perceived as harassment. In an office environment where relationships and interactions can already be tenuous, heightened sensitivity could turn your typical office into a minefield. University of Connecticut researcher Stephenie Chaudoir says “…men who are not harassers and men who are not doing anything wrong end up being painted in the eyes of women, at least for some period of time, in a negative way.”
Read a detailed summary of the study at the Washington City Paper, and share your experiences, male or female, dealing with or witnessing sexual harassment in the workplace in our comment section.
