Statistics regarding acts of vengence against women if they fight back against harassment?

November 15, 2011 7:57 PM

Does anyone know of statistics or studies regarding repercussions to women as a result of filing sexual harassment charges, or otherwise fighting back against daily harassment (cat calling, etc)? In the US, but interested in any data.
posted by korej to Society & Culture (5 answers total)

Can you clarify your question? You seem to be asking about a number of different things, including sexual harassment, street harassment, and filing of charges (civil or criminal?). The response from the legal system, as well as society as a whole, is markedly different in different contexts, and a lot of the conduct that falls under the category of "daily harassment" isn't legally actionable at all in the United States. (For example, catcalling is generally considered protected speech under the First Amendment unless the conduct escalates to assault, threats, or some other illegal act.) It might help to clarify exactly what kind of harassment you had in mind and what kinds of "charges" or "fighting" you mean so that we can help you come up with search terms and places to look for data.
posted by decathecting at 8:33 PM on November 15, 2011

Response by poster: My apologies for lack of the clarity - I'll try again! A friend contends that women who argue back in response to cat calling (which I was under the impression was sexual harassment), or file formal charges of harassment, either at a university, or at an employers, are at higher risk of sexual assault as a form of retaliation. I just wondered if there was anything to back this up.
posted by korej at 8:43 PM on November 15, 2011

"at higher risk of sexual assault" - do you mean at higher risk than women in general are for sexual assault, at higher risk of sexual assault than of other types of retaliation, or at higher risk of sexual assault than men who whistle-blow on institutional malfeasance?

There's certainly a literature out there that says reporting sexual harassment can be met with institutional and individual retaliation - Google Scholar found 7,340 hits for "sexual harassment reporting and retaliation" limited to articles since 2000. IANA organizational psychologist nor employment lawyer, though.
posted by gingerest at 9:26 PM on November 15, 2011

Response by poster: @ gingerest - She means higher risk than women in general for sexual assault, as a direct result of their whistle-blowing, presumably by the men they are reporting on, or by other men who feel a need to retaliate against a woman who has reported sexual harassment. And - is catcalling really not sexual harassment? Good to know, I suppose.
posted by korej at 9:40 PM on November 15, 2011

(IANAL. I'm not even a law hobbyist.) On looking into it - the US has laws protecting speech that run up to the point of obscenity (which is a can of worms and probably doesn't include most of the stuff we're talking about), disturbing the peace, defamation (which means something very specific that doesn't pertain), threats, or incitement to violence or illegal action. In most parts of the US, catcalling in public is probably legal as long as it's not threatening and as long as the asshole doesn't violate local laws WRT language and public shouting.
Sexual harassment is a specific circumstance related to discrimination in the workplace (and on campus, because students are in a special relationship that transfers responsibility to the school).
Nowhere else in the world protects speech the way the US does. So in the UK, Australia, Europe, and even Canada, there are rules about just how much hooting you can do at the ladies (and if your hooting is particularly directed and seems especially misogynist, you might be in violation of hate speech laws). In some parts of Britain, shouting insults is pretty much the same as hollering threats and it's termed harassment.

All that said - I think there are still several questions wrapped up here, each of which requires its own data spelunk (and none of which I have even the first idea how to research but I bet the US day shift people will):

1. Are people who stand up to public rudeness at increased risk for retaliatory violence compared to those who ignore such rudeness?
2. Are women who stand up to public rudeness at increased risk for retaliatory violence compared to those who ignore such rudeness?
3. Are women who stand up to men who are being publicly rude at increased risk for retaliatory violence compared to those who ignore such rudeness?
4. If a woman who stands up to sexist public rudeness is the victim of retaliation, is the retaliation likely to include sexual violence?
posted by gingerest at 11:13 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]