Sexual harassment in the context of double male dominance

Abstract

It has been suggested that numerically male-dominated workplaces propagate cultural norms that support sexual bravado, sexual posturing, and the denigration of feminine behaviour (Sbraga & O'Donohue, 2000). These cultural norms are features of normative male dominance, which have been shown to increase the risk of sexual harassment. This implies that the effect of numerical male dominance on sexual harassment may be mediated by the level of normative male dominance in the work environment. The aim of this study was to test this assumption. Our sample consisted of 1295 police women, who filled out an Internet questionnaire. The results suggest that normative male dominance indeed mediates the relation between numerical male dominance and sexual harassment. We add to the sexual harassment literature by building on Gruber's concept of double dominance. Our study helps to make clear why women are at greater risk of sexual harassment in work situations where men outnumber women than in more gender-balanced workplaces.

Keywords:

• Double male dominance
• Police
• Sexual harassment

Acknowledgments

The data reported were gathered by the Rutgers Nisso Groep, the Dutch Expert Centre on Sexuality, as part of a larger study, which was commissioned by the Dutch Police Union (NPB) and financed by the Grant Committee Labour Market and Educations Police (SAOP). During the research process the researchers (Ms. De Haas, MSc, Ms. Zaagsma, MSc, Ms. Höing MSc, Ms. Van Berlo, MSc, and Ms. Vanwesenbeeck, PhD) were advised by a committee with representatives of the NPB (Mr. Van Duijn and Ms. Van de Putte) and the SAOP (Ms. Hooijenga), as well as the Police Trade Union ACP (Mr. Van de Kamp and Mr. Van der Pal), the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (Ms. Broek, Ms. Hovius, and Mr. Marsman) and the Dutch Police Institute (Mr. Diepenbach). Data were gathered with support of the chiefs of the police divisions.