Everybody in Rhode Island deserves to feel safe and valued in the workplace. However, victims of sexual harassment often face a great deal of trauma and shame when trying to seek help from employers or when making reports to human resources. Men in particular face particularly harsh opposition and little sympathy when reporting acts of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment affects men too
Most discussions about workplace sexual harassment focus on women who have been victimized by men. While it might be true that most victims are women, men are certainly affected too. In fact, men file approximately 17% of all sexual harassment complaints. Unfortunately, men are rarely taken as seriously as they should be for a number of reasons, often leading to feelings of:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Disordered eating
- Lost professional confidence
Part of the problem is that men are often still expected to conform to very strict gender roles. This means that there are many people who expect men to constantly seek out and also enjoy sexual encounters whenever possible. When a man reports sexual harassment, he might be seen unfavorably for deviating from these expectations.
Regardless of someone’s gender, sexual harassment in the workplace is unacceptable. Victims often need time away from work to address their physical and emotional trauma, which can lead to significant wage loss and negatively affect their future careers. Securing compensation for these types of damages is often essential for victims who are focused not only on their recovery, but on holding Rhode Island employers and workplaces responsible.