What Can Medicine Learn From Social Science Studies of Sexual Harassment?
Authors: Lilia M. Cortina, Reshma Jagsi
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2018)

Ideas and Opinions20 November 2018What Can Medicine Learn From Social Science Studies of Sexual Harassment?Lilia M. Cortina, PhD and Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhilLilia M. Cortina, PhDUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (L.M.C., R.J.) and Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhilUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (L.M.C., R.J.)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M18-2047 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail On the heels of the #MeToo movement, 2018 saw the release of a landmark National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report on sexual harassment (1). In addition, the American College of Physicians released a position statement opposing "harassment, discrimination, and retaliation of any form based on characteristics of personal identity, including gender, in the medical profession"—explicitly including sexual harassment (2). However, what do we mean by the term sexual harassment? What actions "count" as sexual harassment, and to what effect? What factors increase risk for harassment, and how can institutions and professional groups act to reduce its frequency? ...References1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on the Impacts of Sexual Harassment. Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academies Pr; 2018. Google Scholar2. Butkus R, Serchen J, Moyer DV, Bornstein SS, Hingle ST; Health and Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians. Achieving gender equity in physician compensation and career advancement: a position paper of the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2018;168:721-3. [PMID: 29710100]. doi:10.7326/M17-3438 LinkGoogle Scholar3. Fitzgerald LF, Cortina LM. Sexual harassment in work organizations: a view from the twenty-first century. In: White JW, Travis C, eds. APA Handbook on the Psychology of Women. Vol. 2. Washington, DC: American Psychological Assoc; 2018:215-34. Google Scholar4. Jagsi R, Griffith KA, Jones R, Perumalswami CR, Ubel P, Stewart A. Sexual harassment and discrimination experiences of academic medical faculty. JAMA. 2016;315:2120-1. [PMID: 27187307] doi:10.1001/jama.2016.2188 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Berdahl JL. Harassment based on sex: protecting social status in the context of gender hierarchy. Acad Manage Rev. 2007;32:641-58. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. Leskinen EA, Cortina LM, Kabat DB. Gender harassment: broadening our understanding of sex-based harassment at work. Law Hum Behav. 2011;35:25-39. [PMID: 20661766] doi:10.1007/s10979-010-9241-5 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Sojo VE, Wood RE, Genat AE. Harmful workplace experiences and women's occupational well-being: a meta-analysis. Psychol Women Q. 2016;40:10-40. CrossrefGoogle Scholar8. Carnes M, Devine PG, BaierManwell L, Byars-Winston A, Fine E, Ford CE, et al. The effect of an intervention to break the gender bias habit for faculty at one institution: a cluster randomized, controlled trial. Acad Med. 2015;90:221-30. [PMID: 25374039] doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000000552 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Leiter MP, Laschinger HKS, Day A, Oore DG. The impact of civility interventions on employee social behavior, distress, and attitudes. J Appl Psychol. 2011;96:1258-74. [PMID: 21744942] doi:10.1037/a0024442 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Willness CR, Steel P, Lee K. A meta-analysis of the antecedents and consequences of workplace sexual harassment. Pers Psychol. 2007;60:127-62. CrossrefGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (L.M.C., R.J.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M18-2047.Corresponding Author: Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, UHB2C490, SPC 5010, 1500 East Medical Center Drive; Ann Arbor, MI 48104; e-mail, [email protected]umich.edu.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Cortina: 3270 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.Dr. Jagsi: UHB2C490, SPC 5010, 1500 East Medical Center Drive; Ann Arbor, MI 48104.Author Contributions: Conception and design: R. Jagsi.Analysis and interpretation of the data: R. Jagsi.Drafting of the article: L.M. Cortina, R. Jagsi.Critical revision for important intellectual content: R. Jagsi.Final approval of the article: L.M. Cortina, R. Jagsi.Collection and assembly of data: R. Jagsi.This article was published at Annals.org on 13 November 2018. 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Fiellin, MD and Darilyn V. Moyer, MDPreventing the tower from toppling for women in surgery 20 November 2018Volume 169, Issue 10Page: 716-717KeywordsBehaviorDisclosureGender discriminationGender identityHealth care providersHealth surveysHeartHuman sexual behaviorPerceptionSexual identity ePublished: 13 November 2018 Issue Published: 20 November 2018 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2018 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...