Sexual harassment is illegal. It can be emotionally devastating and career altering. And it is something that no one should have to tolerate.
Yet, sexual harassment is common. More common than many people realize. According to one study, 1 in 3 women between the ages of 18 and 34 have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.
Despite all this, many victims of workplace sexual harassment do not report the behavior. And there are many reasons why they stay silent.
Reasons For Not Speaking Out
According to Stop Violence Against Women, a project of The Advocates for Human Rights, there are usually three main reasons why women do not report sexual harassment:
- Helplessness: Many women believe that speaking out will do little or no good. Many choose to stay silent instead of taking action that is perceived to do little or no good.
- Fear of blame: Even though sexual harassment is never the victim’s fault, it is common for women to feel some sort of responsibility for the inappropriate behavior they are experiencing.
- Fear of hurting the aggressor: Sexual harassment is a horrible thing to subject someone to. Despite that, many female victims do not want to cause their aggressor any pain, embarrassment or career repercussions.
There are other reasons as well: Many women feel like they have to endure sexual harassment to meet their career goals. Many fear that they will suffer repercussions if they speak out against sexual harassment, such as job loss, demotion or sheer embarrassment.
What To Do If You Are A Victim
If you are the victim of workplace harassment, you need to know that the law is on your side. You do not have to endure the treatment you are receiving.
But you may be fearful about speaking out.
Please consider scheduling a free case evaluation with an employment law attorney from Bononi Law Group, LLP. We have helped numerous victims in the past and we can help you too. We will listen to your story and help you determine what legal steps to take to ensure that the behavior stops and to help you make a full financial recovery.
Call us at 213-550-5503 for help in Southern California.
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