Florida women who work in the legal profession probably already know that sexual harassment is common in their field. In a recent survey conducted by the International Bar Association and Acritas, 36.6% of women and 7.4% of men claimed they had experienced sexual harassment while working in the profession. Furthermore, one in two women said that they experienced bullying in the profession while one in three men said they experienced bullying.
The survey determined the most common forms of sexual harassment that were experienced in the profession. For example, the survey found that sexist comments, such as jokes about sex or gender and inappropriate sexual humor, was the most commonly experienced form of sexual harassment at 67.9%. Sexually suggestive comments came in a close second at 66.8%.
Pressure or invitations for sexual activity were not as common. However, the rate at which they occurred was still high with 24% of the respondents stating that this had occurred to them. Furthermore, 21.6% of the respondents reported sexual contact including kissing, groping or fondling. Approximately 6.7% of the respondents reported receiving demands for sexual favors in exchange for employment or promotion. Finally, 3.1% of respondents reported physical assault or rape occurring within the profession.
Unfortunately, sexual harassment can occur in almost any type of workplace. In some cases, those who report sexual harassment could face retaliation or may even fear losing their jobs. By seeking sexual harassment legal assistance, a victim may be able to obtain justice and make sure that at-fault parties are held accountable.
