When allegations of sexual harassment make their way into Massachusetts and the nation’s headlines, the victims are frequently women, but men are not immune to being victims of this type of behavior in the workplace. In fact, about one-third of all employed American men in a recent survey reported being a victim of sexual harassment sometime within the last year, although there is limited information available about how this type of behavior can emotionally impact men. At Kajko, Weisman & Colasanti, LLP, we recognize that women are not the only victims of workplace sexual harassment, and we have helped many men and women who were victims of such behavior pursue appropriate recourse.

According to Psychology Today, many men who are victims of sexual harassment in the workplace are hesitant to report it. This may be due, at least in part, to a prevailing belief that people do not always believe men who make such allegations. Additionally, men in many industries receive recognition or accolades for being particularly masculine, and this, too, can make men think twice before reporting instances of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Often, workplace sexual harassment that affects men takes on one of three forms. Unwanted sexual advances is one common form, and this can include crude remarks, suggestive references to one’s appearance and so on. Sexual coercion is another common form of sexual harassment that impacts men, and it can involve threats of firing or demoting if one does not comply with a superior’s sexual demands.

Gender harassment is a third form of sexual harassment that impact working American men, and it can involve jokes in poor taste, derogatory comments and the like. Men who identify as sexual minorities face a greater risk of facing this type of sexual harassment in the workplace. You can find more about this topic on our web page.