A recent study could prevent non-stereotypical women from legal protections‼️😳

"Our research found that a claim was deemed less credible and sexual harassment was perceived to be less psychologically (or physically) harmful when it targeted a victim who was less attractive or did not act according to the stereotype of a typical woman,” said Cheryl Kaiser, PhD, of the University of Washington and a co-author of the study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

According to the researchers, general public perception is that younger, more feminine and attractive women, are more likely to be harassed and are more likely to suffer harm. As a result, women who do not fit this prototype may face credibility issues and higher scrutiny when reporting to employers, law enforcement, or in court—leading to lighter sentences and even avoidance of punishment of the perpetrator. 

As we already know, sexual harassment can be devastating and harmful to the mental and physical health of the victim, causing a strain on the victim’s ability to concentrate and function at work, often risking financial stability. It simply does not matter if the victim has a less attractive body shape or is in her 70s versus 20s or is dressed in jeans and a sweat shirt instead of a skirt and high heels. Equally, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity do not matter. In fact, men suffer sexual harassment as well with the same devastating impact on their well being!

Don’t let false perceptions and stereotypes get in the way of taking sexual harassment claims seriously. You should process any such claims equally and with the same level of diligence. 

What will you do today to be #beupstanding and help #changetheculture for an environment without #sexualharassment, #abuse and #racism? #TimesUp. Let’s #playnice. For more info on this topic and other related issues, check out “Play Nice - Playground Rules for Respect in the Workplace,” and join us at www.thesandboxseries.com.