Abstract (eng)
Gender harassment is the subtype of sexual harassment with the highest prevalence, yet it is also the subtype that has been studied empirically the least. Work environments in which gender harassment happens are the basis for the occurrence of more severe, sexualized forms of sexual harassment. Research about gender harassment can be used to counteract its occurrence and consequently prevent the occurrence of the other forms of sexual harassment in the workplace. The present study therefore explores the prevalence of gender harassment targeting women at the workplace in German speaking countries, how women cope with such experiences, and the role of their own ambivalent sexist beliefs in their perception of gender harassment and in coping with it. Seven hundred fifty-seven working women were asked to fill out an online questionnaire, which included a German translation of the Gender Experiences Questionnaire (GEQ), an adapted version of the Coping with Harassment Questionnaire (CHQ), translated into German, and the German version of the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASS). On average, women reported few and irregular experiences with gender harassment, with sexist comments and infantilization showing the highest prevalences. Further, differences in prevalence between various industries and between women of different age were found, as well as differences in how uncomfortable the different forms of gender harassment were perceived to be. Women used mainly internal coping strategies and avoidance behavior, the first being perceived to be the least and the second to be the most effective of all observed coping strategies. A low negative correlation between the women’s hostile-sexist beliefs and their perception of being targeted with gender harassment and their use of external coping strategies was found, respectively. For women’s benevolent-sexist beliefs, a low positive correlation with both variables was found. Finally, prevention and intervention measures for organizations are discussed.