A Sociological Study of Sexual Harassment Experience by Women in Workplace (Empirical Test of Routine Activity Theory)

Expended Abstract Introduction: Women have been discriminated and treated violently throughout the history because of their gender. Illustrations of discrimination and violence cover a wide range of sexual harassment. Violence against women has always been a legitimate way of expressing male domination, in other words, a kind of social control that comes directly from the creation of a patriarchal society (Heydari Chrodeh, 2010). In general, sexual harassment involves a range of unwanted behaviors that appear in different manners, like visually, verbally, behaviorally, and physically. Sexual harassment is very costly, even with increasing sensitivity, sexual harassment at workplaces in past decades has increased significantly (more than triple) (Enarsen, 2011: 15). Approximately 16,000 complaints of sexual harassment are received annually by the US Job Opportunities Commission, with more than a third of them appearing in the courts (17). Sexual harassment is a problem for many employees, with tens of thousands of women every year reporting their experiences of sexual harassment to employers and organizations (Einarsen, 2011). The definition of sexual harassment is not simple. Individuals have different perceptions of what is described as sexual harassment. The following definitions provide a more comprehensive view of sexual harassment: The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has provided a definition of sexual harassment, which is often cited and based on sexual harassment: “Sexual relationship without the consent of the other party, the request for sex and any verbal or physical behavior bearing a sex load that can promote a job or regarded as a threat to women’s job loss (EEOC 1998). Medical centers can be referred to as one of the working environments in which male and female employees have close contacts. Health centers, including hospitals, are part of a work center with special and different working conditions, including working hours, in which male and female employees are in contact with shifts in the morning, evening and at night according to their job requirements, as well as the relationship. The close emotional relationship between personnel due to their occupational characteristics can create conditions for male sexuality and sexual harassment for female employees. Therefore, the present study aims to examine the social factors affecting the experience of sexual harassment by women in the workplace, in order to deeply examine the triple dimensions of the crime triangle (delinquent, victimized, environment) simultaneously. Data were collected in order to find out the experiences of women working in hospitals in Karaj (the capital of Alborz province in Iran) from sexual harassment, considering that working conditions in hospitals are such that it is possible for female and male employees to be contacted 24 hours a day more than other working environments, as well as an emotional connection with employees because of their working conditions, which requires this connection as well. Failure to study this issue in hospitals in the country has been considered in this organization. Method: The present study is conducted using survey method. In this research, SPSS software was used to analyze the data and attempts were made to make the tables as simple as possible and far from the statistical complexities. In this research, Cronbach’s alpha was used to determine the validity of the questionnaire. The results for independent and dependent variables are presented in the following table: Table 1: Validity coefficient of used indices Indicator    Number of points    Validity coefficient    Total Validity coefficient Sexual Harassment experience    Verbal harassment    21    0.95    0.96     Non verbal harassment    9    0.90     The amount of attendance is motivated    15    0.72    0.72 Recognition rate as the appropriate target    25    0.77    0.77 Loss of protection    Personal    17    0.67    0.65     Organizational    16    0.68     Findings: The path analysis diagram shows the direct, indirect, and total effects of each of the main variables of the research. Chart (1) Path analysis Discussion: Despite the increasing share of working women in society and the probability of volatility in the amount of violence against women, and the importance of the phenomenon of sexual harassment at work in relation to women workers, as a form of obvious violence against women and its impact on the community, so far, few research studies have dealt with this issue. Therefore, in this research, we try to use the theory of everyday activities to analyze the extent of sexual harassment of women employed in Karaj hospitals. The results of this study indicate that, firstly, female sexual harassment in the workplace is an inclusive issue and an important social issue. Secondly, in the occurrence of this problem, various variables and factors are involved. According to the results of the present study, the extent of the presence of the subject, the degree of recognition as the appropriate target, and the lack of protection are the most important predictors of the degree of work place sexual harassment