Citation

Hippensteele SK, Adams AK, Chesney-Lind M. J. Crim. Justice Educ. 1992; 3(2): 315.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (U.S.A.), Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10511259200082691

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

ictimization of students on campus remains an important and neglected area of research for criminal justice educators. This study explores gender differences in definitions, attitudes, and judgments of offensiveness of behaviors that fall within the “grey area” of sexual harassment. A random sample of undergraduate students completed questionnaires designed to assess sexual harassment stereotypes. A subsample of these participants also completed a questionnaire designed to elicit judgments of scenarios depicting potentially harassing interactions between professors and students. We found a relationship between stereotypic attitudes and scenario judgments, as well as significant gender differences in judgments of offensiveness of particular behaviors. Fewer gender differences were found in items measuring students' feelings about whether “grey area” behaviors were legally sexual harassment. We also found no gender differences in students' assessments of which behaviors should be reported. Both female and male students regard some forms of sexist speech to be as objectionable as “quid pro quo” harassment. Students' judgments of the reportability of hypothetical incidents were not consistent with legal definitions of sexual harassment.