Victims' and observers' perceptions of sexual harassment: implications for employers' legal risk in North America

Abstract

The way in which victims and observers perceive potentially harassing behaviours and employers' responses to sexual harassment complaints significantly affect organizations' liability risk under sexual harassment law in North America. This article examines studies in the sexual harassment literature that focus on the perceptions of sexual harassment victims and observers, and identifies legal and extra-legal factors that influence their harassment judgments. The implications of research findings for employer liability and future research are discussed.

Keywords:

• harassment judgments
• observers
• sexual harassment
• victims