Has Sexual Harassment at Work Decreased Since #MeToo?

It has been two years since the #MeToo movement took on wide momentum, and some big questions remain: What has changed? Has the incidence of sexual harassment in organizations decreased? What has happened to the women who have spoken up? In 2016, before #MeToo took off, researchers surveyed 250 working women in the U.S., asking about the pervasiveness of sexual harassment in their workplaces and how it impacts them at work; they also interviewed 31 women in the U.S. about their individual experiences. They conducted a second survey after #MeToo, in September 2018, of 263 women, and reconnected with some of the women they previously interviewed to see whether they’ve seen changes or have changed their views. Their data suggests that while blatant sexual harassment — experiences that drive many women out of their careers — might be declining, workplaces may be seeing a “backlash effect,” or an increase in hostility toward women. The authors urge companies to maintain the positive changes, to ensure that women and men provide support for those who are harassed, and to pay particular attention to the most vulnerable workers.