Women Who Report Sexual Harassment at Work Often Get Treated Even Shittier As a Result
LatestA new Australian Human Rights Commission report found that women who complain about sexual harassment in the workplace suffer even more unjust treatment as a result. That’s fucked up, because it’s hard to imagine how things can ever get better if women stay silent. But if your job is on the line when you’re deciding whether to speak up about an inappropriate comment or touch from a superior, would you really want to — and/or could you afford to — be a martyr?
The report found that more than one in five women experienced sexual harassment at work, but that only 20 percent of those made a formal complaint, a number that’s declined in recent years. Yet, the number of staffers penalized for complaining — whether by general shit-talking or, in more extreme cases, actual demotions — jumped from 16 percent to 29 percent since 2003. Women working in health services, retail, and the restaurant industry were most likely to suffer.