Nearly 90 per cent of young women in US have experienced sexual harassment, report finds

[niyad]

Last edited Thu May 18, 2017, 01:10 PM - Edit history (1)

Nearly 90 per cent of young women in US have experienced sexual harassment, report finds

Young people struggling to form and maintain healthy and fulfilling romantic relationships and deal with widespread misogyny and sexual harassment, study reveals


Despite a high rate of sexual assault among young people, 48 per cent of this group either agreed or were neutral about the idea that “society has reached a point that there is no more double standard against women, report finds iStock

Nearly 90 per cent of young women in the US have experienced some form of sexual harassment during their lifetime, according to a new report. Despite the high number, the research carried out by the prestigious Harvard Graduate School of Education found that many weren't talking to their parents or educators about the issue. The study, based on a survey of more than 3,000 18 to 25-year-olds across the US, found that 87 per cent of young women reported having experienced some form of sexual harassment during their lifetime.


However, more than three quarters (76 per cent) of its respondents, both male and female, had never had a conversation with their parents about how to avoid sexually harassing others. More than half (56 per cent) of respondents meanwhile said they had never spoken with their parents about the importance of not pressuring someone to have sex, while an even higher proportion (62 per cent) had not spoken to their parents about the importance of not continuing to ask someone to have sex after they have said no. *********It also found that third of young men think they should be dominant in relationships. *********


The report also suggests that many young people struggle to develop healthy romantic relationships, due to the fact that both teens and adults tend to greatly overestimate the percentage of young people who are hooking up or having casual sex. This can lead to many teenagers and young adults feeling pressured to engage in sex when they are not interested or ready, it warned.

The authors of the report recommend that adults need to “identify for teens common forms of misogyny and harassment”, such as catcalling or using gender-based slurs, and that they should to “talk to teens specifically about what respect and care concretely mean in any type of romantic relationship”.

. . . .
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/sexual-harrassment-us-young-women-90-percent-titled-the-talk-a7740456.html

[zipplewrath]

1. Wish they presented data

I don't dispute the numbers but I'd be very interested in the underlying data. Mostly because other studies have put similar claims at anywhere from 25% to 75% depending upon specifically what was being discussed.

I also wish they had put numbers to the claim of over estimation of the casual sex rate among teens.

[niyad]

2. I corrected the link for the article. it might answer your qustions.

[zipplewrath]

19. 90 % is very large

I'm curious about things like the number of incidents per person. The various forms and the distribution across the population. Age of first incident, things like that. I'm also curious just how much people are over estimating teens sexual behavior.

[pnwmom]

28. Not large at all. And you're forgetting that grown men are among the harassers

of girls, teens, and young women. Their excuse would probably be that the 12 year old looked older -- to them.

It happens as soon as girls show signs of developing. Friends of mine were sexually harassed as early as 10. With me, it began at age 11 or 12.

[zipplewrath]

30. I meant as compared to comparable studies

I've seen numbers between 25 and 75% depending upon exactly what was being discussed. Like I said, I don't dispute the numbers, but I'd be interested in their distribution and context.

What types of harassment started at 11 or 12 for example? How much of it qualifies as assault? (I've seen studies suggesting that 1 in 4 are assaulted by the age of 20).

[pnwmom]

32. This study, if you read it, clearly included harassment that doesn't include assault.

Every kind of harassment can start as soon as a girl begins to develop physically. When I was 12 and walking on a street in my suburban neighborhood, going to see a friend, a bunch of men from a building site suddenly interrupted their break to surround me, making remarks about my body and laughing and walking along with me. I kept my head down and kept walking. I was terrified. It was all over in less than a minute but the experience left its mark. After that, I crossed the street if I saw a construction site, or any group of men who looked like they could be trouble.

[zipplewrath]

37. Don't they have daughters?

Ya know, that's always my first thought when I see that. You'd think ONE of those jerks would have a daughter and do just a LITTLE bit of introspection.

[pnwmom]

38. If they did they lacked empathy. I was tall, so they probably thought I was older,

and therefore was a fair target.

There's probably also the gang factor (not a literal gang - these were construction workers). Men in a group might egg each other on.

[pnwmom]

4. They did present data. I'm not sure what you're saying, exactly. n/t

[NCTraveler]

5. Might be of interest. I'm not promoting the veracity of the claims.

Harvard report: Millennials not interested in casual sex

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/harvard-report-millennials-interested-casual-sex/story?id=47447346

I think this is the full report from Harvard.

https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/files/gse-mcc/files/mcc_the_talk_final.pdf

[oberliner]

3. Thanks for posting that link

Weird that its a UK source.

And what is with that photo (posted twice for some reason)?

Also, is there a link to the study itself?

[pnwmom]

6. The photo is an example of sexual harassment. You couldn't tell that? n/t

[oberliner]

7. It's an odd stock photo

Reinforcing a stereotyped idea of what sexual harassment is.

The article implies that the harassment in question was not primarily of that type. I'd be curious to see the report itself.

[pnwmom]

9. There are MANY ways to sexually harass, and inappropriate physical contact is a common way.

Women will recognize the significance of that photo, even if men don't.

[oberliner]

15. Yes, indeed

But the article (and presumably the study) seems to be focused more on relationship coercion, particularly among students.

[Orrex]

18. Can you post a pic of relationship coercion between students?

Thanks!

[oberliner]

20. Here's the photo Newsweek used for their story on this report

Edit to add: Here's a link to their story:

http://www.newsweek.com/misogyny-rife-america-study-proves-it-611574

[pnwmom]

24. The article writer chose his or her own focus. But if you think middle and high school students

don't inappropriately touch and grab other students, you are wrong.

[oberliner]

27. Fair enough

I guess I just thought the stock photo was cheesy. Didn't really mean anything by it. What's really important is the results of the study itself. Here's hoping that it will move people to take action.

[zipplewrath]

36. Violently

Middle and high school students violently "touch" each other. Violent assault is quite common. I'd estimate roughly on incident a month on average for about 6 years of my childhood. I applaud the whole anti-bullying movement going on, but we have a LONG way to go. Heck, we live in a very violently oriented culture.

Sexual assault is an act of violence. It's part of the larger culture of violence in which we live.

[LanternWaste]

14. I think you are again, confusing "infer" and "imply."

I think you are again, confusing "infer" and "imply."

[oberliner]

17. I thought imply was to suggest and infer was to conclude

Is that not accurate?

[Orrex]

23. You are correct

The reply to you was an attempt at snark, suggesting that the problem is not that the article implies a certain thing but rather that you inferred that certain thing.

[oberliner]

25. Oh ok

I thought the article seemed to imply that, but that could be a misunderstanding on my part (or could have been influenced by the Newsweek article that I also read on the same subject).

I'd be curious to see the actual report itself.

Do you know if there's a link to it somewhere?

[Orrex]

29. I haven't found it yet nor, honestly, searched too thoroughly

I took the photo as a generic representation of harassment, with the understanding that it wasn't intended to capture the entirety of the phenomenon.

[oberliner]

31. Fair enough

I don't know, for some reason I thought the stock photo was cheesy and not really in keeping with the serious nature of the article (nor the thrust of what the study was about). But really, it doesn't matter. What is important is the content of the study and what people are willing to do in response.

[pnwmom]

33. People who think the contact in the photo isn't "serious" in a work situation are wrong.

Did you notice the computer in the photo -- a suggestion that they are at work? That would be a clear example of sexual harassment. And, yes, that kind of thing does happen.

[oberliner]

35. Office sexual harassment is very serious

I prefer the choice that Newsweek made with the photo they included with their version of the story to the stock picture chosen by this source. I won't belabor the point any further. It is not a big deal. I'm sorry I said anything.

[pnwmom]

8. This is utterly believable, and it starts as soon as a girl hits adolescence.

Which means, age 12, or even younger in some cases.

[niyad]

10. I am grateful that I am far past that age. it was bad enough when I was young, but getting

worse by the day.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

11. K&R. And when women try to talk about it, they often aren't belived.

"I never see sexual harassment!"

"I wish someone would compliment me all day!"

"Oh, that's just some creep."

Etc.

[niyad]

12. welcome to du. and, sadly, you are absolutely correct.

[gratuitous]

13. Roger Ailes may be gone, but his legacy lives on and on

Ailes' lifetime career of oppressing the vulnerable and instructing others to do so will not pass quickly from this culture.

[niyad]

21. sadly, you are quite correct.

[Orrex]

16. How the hell is it only 90 percent?

k/r

[niyad]

22. that was my first thought.

[Orrex]

26. As a man, I of course have the authority to speak on behalf of all women...

Hardy har har.

But in all seriousness, I'd offer a conservative estimate that approximately 100% of the women I know with familiarity have described their experiences with sexual harassment.

[pnwmom]

34. Thank you, Orrex. I have never met a woman who couldn't cite examples, starting very young. n/t

[Orrex]

39. I'm more amazed by it almost daily even now.

It wasn't until very recently that I learned, for instance, that even young (tween) girls are subjected to frequent unwanted attention by adult males, and that they're fully aware of it as it happens. Skeevy and horrifying and, in retrospect, I shouldn't be surprised.

I was in my 20s before I started to become how pervasive it is, and I can't pretend to have been entirely blameless prior to that time. It was a different era, to be sure, but in retrospect I don't accept that as an excuse. I never assaulted anyone or anything at that level, but I had moments of boorishness that make now-me want to kick then-me's ass.

I have benefited hugely from several strong women rhetorically smacking me upside the head over the years, without whose influence I would have been much slower to open my eyes.

[pnwmom]

40. I remember telling a friend that it starts at 11 or 12

and she corrected me -- she developed earlier than I, so she wasn't even 10.

Grown men following girls down the street, making kissing noises or pinching. Even being honked at feels intrusive, though you feel safer when they're in a car.

[hunter]

41. The 10% are somehow convinced it's their own fault.

I'm a male but it seems similar to the bullying I suffered as a kid. There were always a few adults in positions of authority who would try to convince me it was my fault whenever some bully beat me bloody. All I had to do was "be a man" or something.

As a skinny, squeaky, highly reactive kid, that wasn't in the cards. The best I could manage was some sort of invisibility.