Sexual Assault and Harassment

Both the courts and the public seem confused about sexual harassment--what it is, how it functions, and what sorts of behaviors are actionable in court. Theresa M. Beiner contrasts perspectives from social scientists on the realities of workplace sexual harassment with the current legal standard. When it comes to sexual harassment law, all too often courts (and employers) are left in the difficult position of grappling with vague legal standards and little guidance about what sexual harassment is and what can be done to stop it. Often, courts impose their own stereotyped view of how women and men "ought" to behave in the workplace. This viewpoint, social science reveals, is frequently out of sync with reality. As a legal scholar who takes social science seriously, Beiner provides valuable insight into what behaviors people perceive as sexually harassing, why such behavior can be characterized as discrimination because of sex, and what types of workplaces are more conducive to sexually harassing behavior than others. Throughout, Beiner offers proposals for legal reform with the goal of furthering workplace equality for both men and women.

This illuminating work on one of today's most provocative issues provides all the necessary information for careful, critical thinking about the concept of sexual harassment. Consisting mainly of two parts, it first traces the construction of the concept of sexual harassment from the originalpublic uses of the term to its definitions in the law, in legal cases, and in empirical research. It then analyzes philosophical definitions of sexual harassment and a number of issues that have arisen in the law, including the reasonable woman standard and whether same-sex harassment should beconsidered sex discrimination.

Examining the relationship between law and social change in the context of employees' everyday problems with sexual harassment, this volume elaborates a framework for studying the role of law in everyday acts of resistance - what the author calls the legal consciousness of injustice. The framework situates the analysis in the context of a specific social problem and its related legal domain. It de-centres the law by accounting for the way that social movements, counter-movements, policy makers and powerful institutions frame the debate surrounding the social problem. Drawing on frame analysis developed in social movement studies, this aspect of the approach specifically incorporates other schema and shows how law supports both oppositional and dominant interpretations of experience. Following the stages of a dispute, the framework then examines the way that people use frames to make sense of their experiences.

In France, a common notion is that the shared interests of graduate students and their professors could lead to intimate sexual relations, and that regulations curtailing those relationships would be both futile and counterproductive. By contrast, many universities and corporations in the United States prohibit sexual relationships across hierarchical lines and sometimes among coworkers, arguing that these liaisons should have no place in the workplace. In this age of globalization, how do cultural and legal nuances translate? And when they differ, how are their subtleties and complexities understood? In comparing how sexual harassment--a concept that first emerged in 1975--has been defined differently in France and the United States, Abigail Saguy explores not only the social problem of sexual harassment but also the broader cultural concerns of cross-national differences and similarities.

At every stage of education, sexual harassment is common and often considered a rite of passage for young people. It's not unusual for a girl to hear 'Alright beautiful' or 'Hey, shorty!' on a daily basis, as she walks down the hall in school or out in town, followed by a sexual innuendo, insult, come-on, or assault. Girls for Gender Equity, a nonprofit organisation based in New York, has developed a model for teens to teach one another about sexual harassment. Geared toward students, parents and teachers, this book is an excellent model for building awareness and creating change.

This is a somber reminder that sexual aggression, violence, and rape are chronic and serious problems on college campuses today. The volume proposes proactive strides toward stopping such violence. It addresses the role of alcohol and rape, includes the latest information on club drugs and drug-facilitated rape, and explores the special issues surrounding gay, lesbian and transgender violence. Chapters also address changing "the culture" found in, and often fostered by, fraternities and sororities as well as some athletic teams. It puts forward constructive strategies for preventing sexual assault, managing anger, group counseling for survivors, and more. This book will aid counselors and administrators in understanding and stopping sexual assault on college campuses across the country.