News Desk |
A recent survey conducted in the United States of America reveals that men are now reluctant to spend time with their female colleagues in the wake of Me Too movement as they fear of being caught up in sexual harassment cases.
The results also claim that the same movement initiated for the protection of women is costing them professionally. As a precaution, men tend to distance themselves from women, while the latter misses out the chance of mentorship and professional links that could lead to promotion.
The study conducted by women’s rights group, LeanIn.Org, shows approximately two-thirds of male managers in the survey stated they would be uncomfortable taking part in a one-to-one activity with a woman. Senior level managers were found more unwilling to spend time with their junior females than male co-workers at a similar level.
The appreciable findings of the survey were the improvement in the rate of the organization’s response to sexual harassment cases; it pulled up from 46 percent in 2018 to 70 percent.
They were 12 times more hesitant to have one-on-one meetings with junior women, nine times more concerned over traveling together and six times more reluctant to have work dinners with them.
“A lot of men don’t realise sitting on the sidelines is actually continuing to limit the opportunities of women,” Rachel Thomas, president of LeanIn.Org, told an international news agency.
“This data really shows that we are moving in the wrong direction at a time when it’s so critical that women are getting mentorship and sponsorship and equal access.”
Read more: Sexual harassment: A true picture
Also, thirty-six percent of the men in the survey, more than 5,000 US adults, said they turned down mentoring or socialising with women since they were nervous about how it would be perceived.
The appreciable findings of the survey were the improvement in the rate of the organization’s response to sexual harassment cases; it pulled up from 46 percent in 2018 to 70 percent.
Men, however, were of the view that the alleged perpetrator of harassment paid higher price career-wise while two-thirds of women believed they suffer more.
Read more: How to protect women from sexual harassment?
Women’s groups said the findings showed the need for more action to ensure equality at work. “#MeToo helped shine a light on just how prevalent sexual harassment is in the workplace, and laws and policies have not yet caught up with the social awareness around it,” said Shelby Quast, a spokeswoman for women’s rights group known as‘Equality Now’.
“We have to encourage a healthy work environment among all employees and perpetrators need to be held accountable.”