How Managers, Coworkers, and HR Pressure Women to Stay Silent About Harassment

Sex-based harassment is pervasive in the workplace. And it is disproportionately experienced by women. One reason why it is so common is that most victims stay silent about their experiences. Studies suggest that victims fear consequences at work or feel that nothing will happen as a result of speaking up. But what has been studied less is how this silencing occurs. Researchers explored how female victims are silenced — who influences them and what exactly happens when they try to speak up. In-depth interviews with 31 academics showed that victims encountered three barriers when they tried to speak up about the harassment they experienced: First, they were told they had to prove that their experience was uncommon and significant; second, they were expected to “trust the system” to resolve their issues; and third, they faced severe consequences, such as a damaged reputation, when they challenged the system.