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A Model of Racialized Sexual Harassment of Women in the UK Workplace

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Abstract

This paper examines Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) women’s experiences of sexual harassment in the UK workplace from the perspective of frequency and types of sexual harassment and characteristics of the harasser; ethnic and cultural influences; power, fear of reprisals, and reporting behavior. Using a snowballing technique, in depth interviews with 17 BAME women who had experienced or witnessed BAME sexual harassment reported that they were frequently sexually harassed by men from the same ethnic background. The fear of job loss, reprisals from male family members and negative organizational consequences resulted in over three quarters of the women not reporting incidents. Key questions regarding the factors and influences that are inherent in racialized sexual harassment are integrated into a model.

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Acknowledgement

We would like to thank the European Social Fund for their Finance Support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Centre for Equality and Diversity at Work, Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, Booth Street West, Manchester, M15 6PB, UK

    Sandra L. Fielden, Marilyn J. Davidson & Carianne Hunt

  2. School of Social Sciences, Leeds Metropolitan University, D 801, Civic Quarter, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK

    Helen Woolnough

Authors
  1. Sandra L. Fielden
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  2. Marilyn J. Davidson
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  3. Helen Woolnough
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  4. Carianne Hunt
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Correspondence to Sandra L. Fielden.

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Fielden, S.L., Davidson, M.J., Woolnough, H. et al. A Model of Racialized Sexual Harassment of Women in the UK Workplace. Sex Roles 62, 20–34 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-009-9715-4

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