Sexual Harassment in Academe Is Underreported, Especially by Students in the Physical Sciences

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Navigating Institutionalized Violence and Barriers

Abstract

What factors predict the underreporting of sexual harassment in academe? We used logistic regression and sentiment analysis to examine 2,346 reports of sexual harassment involving members of university communities. Results indicate students were 1.6 times likely to not report their experiences than faculty. Women in the physical sciences were 1.7 times more likely to not report their experiences than women in other disciplines. Men represented 90% of the reported perpetrators of sexual harassment. Analysis of respondents’ written accounts show varying overall sentiment based on discipline, student type, and the type of institution, particularly regarding mental health. Our results suggest that institutional and departmental barriers driven by power asymmetries impact the underreporting sexual harassment among students—especially in STEM disciplines.

Authors

• Clare Baek, University of Southern California

• Stephen J. Aguilar, University of Southern California