Sexually Harassing Messages: Decoding Workplace Conversation

Abstract

Research has documented the occurrence and impact of sexual harassment in organizations. Yet, scholars have not considered the way in which the language features of conversation contribute to the construction of verbal sexual harassment. Indirect language features were compiled through an analysis of transcripts from video, audio, and written stimuli used in sexual harassment research and transcripts of sexual harassment training videos. These interactions were analyzed for six language features: (a) relationship attempts, (b) contextually grounded opportunity for (c) multiple meanings including (d) sexual references, and (e) presence of real or presumed power relative to the (f) receiver's indications that the overtures were unwanted. Analyses result in theorem to more clearly specify the manner in which sexual harassment emerges from conversation, a process naturally embedded in the practice of work.

Keywords:

• Language Features
• Sexual Harassment
• Verbal Communication

Research reported in this article was partially supported by a Central States Communication Association Federation Prize to the first author

Notes

∗receiver responses not provided.

∗∗100% of respondents identified the supervisor's statement as sexual harassment.

∗∗∗participants' evaluations of messages as sexual harassment were related to message explicitness.

This manuscript was accepted by the previous editor, Professor Jim L. Query.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joann Keyton

(Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 1987) is Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas

Kathy Menzie

(Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2006) is Assistant Professor in the Department of Mass Media at Washburn University