AAUW Report Documents the Long-Lasting Negative Impact of Workplace Sexual Harassment

A new report from the American Association of University Women finds that the vast majority of women have been subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace. Furthermore, women who have been victimized face long-term consequences that can affect their careers, their health, their economic well-being, and the rest of their lives.

The report states that “women who have experienced sexual harassment report severe and long-lasting negative mental health consequences, such as depression and post-traumatic stress. Sexual harassment has also been linked to a higher risk of long-term negative physical health effects, as both direct and indirect consequences of negative mental health effects.”

The survey also found that 38 percent of women surveyed who had experienced sexual harassment at work reported that as a result of the harassment, they left their jobs earlier than they would have otherwise. Another 37 reported that their career advancement was adversely affected by sexual harassment at work.

The report shows that these long-term effects of sexual harassment can have an impact on women’s overall economic and financial security. The report states: “When women leave a job due to sexual harassment, research indicates that they often move to a job of lower quality or with lower pay. This impacts women’s short- and long-term economic security as they earn less and ultimately retire with less.”

The full report, Limiting Our Livelihoods: The Cumulative Impact of Sexual Harassment on Women’s Careers, may be downloaded by clicking here.