Mental Health/Psychology

The Reasons Women Don’t Report Sexual Harassment and Rape

The Power Differential is a Major Factor

Women have their reasons for staying silent about sexual harassment and rape in the workplace. Photo by Cottonbro studio via Pexels

As a mental health professional, I have spoken to many different women who have experienced both rape and sexual harassment. A 2018 study by the non-profit Stop Street Harassment found that 81% of women have been victims of sexual harassment.

I tell men that I haven’t met a woman who hasn’t been sexually harassed publicly, privately, with friends, or at work. Now think about that when you send your daughters and sons out as adults. It is more than likely that your daughter will be sexually harassed than not. I truly hope you teach your sons not to participate in treating women in such a fashion.

When I have these conversations with men, often the responses I hear are the following statements: 1. You all are too sensitive. All this political correctness is no fun. Nobody is allowed to have fun anymore. 2. You think women don’t talk like that? (My answer to this is — no. Not to that degree and if they do, you should stop them immediately). And here’s my all-time favorite… drum roll please… 3. “If it bothered her why didn’t she say anything when it happened?!”

Well, let me tell you what you’re missing and why women don’t say anything. Power…