People often don’t like to talk about sexual harassment. As such, there are some prevailing myths about it that continue year after year.
Understanding these myths can help you grasp the realities. Below are three common ones to keep in mind.
1. A lot of people make up stories just to get revenge. For example, an employee who was passed over for a promotion could lie to get back at a supervisor.
The reality is that this is not common at all. Some studies have found that the number of false reports comes in under 1 percent. In truth, many legit complaints actually go unreported.
2. Workers are rarely subjected to harassment.
The reason for this myth could simply be that a lot of people don’t talk about it. One study found that anywhere between 40 and 60 percent of female workers had been impacted by sexual harassment. It’s very common.
3. Female employees provoke the harassment with behavior or their appearance.
This is just not the case, or all working women who were harassed would look and act the same. In actuality, they are of all different ages. They have different physical appearances and they dress differently. They have different behavior patterns. They’re of various races.
Don’t buy in to these myths about sexual harassment. Understand the realities, how it can violate your rights, and what you can do about it. Don’t be afraid to take action if you’re being harassed. Make sure you know all of the legal options that are open to you and how to proceed.
Source: University of Oregon, “Sexual Harassment: Myths and Realities,” accessed June 07, 2017