Study Suggest that Sexual Harassment Claims Considered More Credible When Made by “Prototypical Women”

A study conducted by graduate students at the University of Washington, suggests that women who present as feminine and are considered conventionally attractive are more likely to be believed when making workplace sexual harassment claims. This leaves women who don’t fit this conventional mold more likely to face challenges when they try to report harassment.

The study, which involved more than 4000 participants, suggests most people believe that “prototypical” women, considered conventionally attractive, are much more likely to be sexually harassed then “non prototypical” women who don’t meet conventional beauty standards. According to one of the study’s lead authors, Bryan Bandt, these “non prototypical” women are “neglected in ways that could contribute to them having discriminatory treatment under the law; people think they’re less credible — and less harmed — when they make a claim, and think their perpetrators deserve less punishment.” 

Researchers performed a variety of tests to address the question of who people think is most likely to be harassed. In one test, a group of participants were asked to draw a picture of a woman who had been harassed, while another group was asked to draw a woman who had not been harassed. The first group of respondents drew women that would be considered feminine and conventionally attractive, on the other hand, the second group drew less conventionally attractive women with a more masculine appearance. Additional tests described various scenarios of sexual harassment to participants and then presented them with digital headshots, asking which image best represented the woman in the scenario they had heard. 

According to the study’s authors the results were clear, “participants generally perceived sexual harassment victims as prototypical women”, and in fact may perceive a woman as more “prototypical” if she has been sexually harassed. Consequently, when study participants were presented a scenario with a “non prototypical” woman they were less likely to consider the scenario harassment, and less likely to see the victim as credible.

This study shows how important it is for people to put their biases and preconceived perceptions aside when sexual harassment is reported. While the University of Washington’s study suggests that many believe being a “prototypical” women is a prerequisite to be a victim of sexual harassment, this is far from the truth. Sexual harassment can affect any woman, regardless of their physical features, race, or sexual orientation. Eliminating harassment requires that all claims are taken seriously, no matter who the victim is.