The image of a male executive chasing a female secretary around his desk is a long-standing stereotype of workplace sexual harassment in the minds of many – but it’s far from the whole truth.
Studies have shown that there’s something called a “paradox of power” that makes women in executive positions and other leadership roles uniquely vulnerable to sexual harassment – even more so than their lower-placed counterparts.
Why are women executives so often subjected to sexual harassment?
There are a lot of different social dynamics in play that make it difficult for workplaces to stamp out sexual harassment, especially where women in leadership roles are concerned. These include:
- Cultural backlashes against female authority: Some deep-seated social expectations around gender roles don’t make it easy on women in leadership roles. Sometimes male subordinates respond to female authority with harassment as an attempt to “put women in their place.”
- Higher visibility from above and below: Women in intermediate leadership roles often draw the attention of their superiors and subordinates alike – and their visibility can amplify biases and stereotypes. That can embolden those with sexist beliefs to act on their impulses.
- Isolation and fear of appearing weak: Women in leadership roles can be somewhat isolated, particularly in male-dominated fields. Harassers can often sense that those women don’t want to appear unable to handle the pressure, and withstanding sexual harassment is sometimes regarded as just “part of the job.”
In short, women in leadership roles are often treated as if they didn’t really earn their position – and some harassers simply consider them a challenge. If they can intimidate, embarrass or harass them and get away with it, they feel powerful – and that’s what sexual abuse is really all about.
There are many reasons that women executives don’t report workplace sexual harassment – and all of them are valid. However, legal guidance can make it easier to fight back and help you preserve your reputation and the career you love in the face of those kinds of issues.