The incidence of male physicians experiencing sexual harassment is unreported. Sexual harassment in the workplace and in educational settings creates an environment that demeans people and has a negative impact on individual performance and effectiveness as well as organizational productivity and unit morale. As sensitivity to this complex issue has been recently heightened, there exists much confusion, even about exactly what constitutes sexual harassment, as well as about modalities appropriate for dealing with the problem. It is incumbent on employers, organizations, and institutions to represent all their constituents, male and female, and provide education and guidance to facilitate eradication of this destructive behavior. In particular, medical schools and training programs must be aware of the prevalence of the problem and have action plans available.
Sexual harassment is one form of gender discrimination.
Thus, there are 2 general aspects of sexual harassment. Its presence, however, is noted throughout the entire workforce, which includes all health care personnel. Certain egregious behaviors are clearly agreed to represent sexual harassment. Rape or indecent assault, as well as using one's position of authority by offering rewards or threatening to influence another person's career based on sexual favors, are agreed on as clearly constituting sexual harassment. At the other end of the spectrum, most people agree that it is acceptable behavior for a person to respectfully compliment someone's appearance.