Sexual Harassment Prediction Quiz

Certain characteristics of work environments can be good predictors of whether sexual harassment is likely to happen. There is a growing body of research that describes what those environments are likely to be: where males dominate in numbers, or where males dominate in authority, or where there is a highly sexualized atmosphere. Using the 50-question quiz below, you may be able to evaluate your workplace and discover the likehood that women will be victims of sexual harassment. Answer all 50 questions "yes" or "no." At the bottom of the quiz, click on the submit button to get the score of your workplace.

1.At my job, males have numerical dominance. There are many more men than women.

Yes
No

2. At my job males outnumber females by 4 or more to one.

Yes
No

3. At my job, a few men have status and power over a mostly female workforce.

Yes
No

4. I work in a "male preserve," a traditionally all-male profession, such as military, police, security, firefighting or corrections.

Yes
No

5. I work in a skilled technical field, traditionally dominated by men, such as: construction, masonry, pipe-fitting, guild crafts; electrical or similar job.

Yes
No

6. At my workplace, males typically set the rules, both written and unwritten rule, standards and norms for communication between the sexes.

Yes
No

7. At my workplace, men often tell sexual jokes or stories to other male and/or female workers.

Yes
No

8. At work, I have heard of one or more incidents of sexual harassment.

Yes
No

9. If I were to experience sexual harassment at work, I am not sure what I would do.

Yes
No

10. My employer seems to hire very attractive women.

Yes
No

11. Alcohol is served at office celebrations.

Yes
No

12. Office celebrations are held after normal work hours, and spouses and significant others are usually not invited.

Yes
No

13. At work I have personally observed at least one incident that I would call sexual harassment or something close to it.

Yes
No

14. At my workplace, people, both men and/or women, send sexual jokes or stories to others by email.

Yes
No

15. At my workplace, employees look at pornographic websites on the internet.

Yes
No

16. I know of supervisors or managers who have laughed at, shared, or forwarded sexual email jokes.

Yes
No

17. I know of supervisors or managers who are aware that some employees look at pornography on the internet while at work.

Yes
No

18. I have experienced having male supervisors or managers look me up and down or look at my chest while talking to me.

Yes
No

19. The receptionist at my workplace is a very attractive and provocatively dressed young woman.

Yes
No

20. Many women at my workplace are young and dress in a sexy manner: high heels, tight clothing, short skirts, and/or heavy makeup.

Yes
No

21. At my workplace, a woman who complained about sexual harassment would probably be blamed for bringing it on herself or be accused of lying for personal gain.

Yes
No

22. At my workplace, if the phrase “sexual harassment” is mentioned, it is made part of a joke.

Yes
No

23. At my workplace, there are known “predators” who get away with sexually inappropriate behavior toward women co-workers.

Yes
No

24. At my workplace, a woman who complains about sexual harassment would probably receive little support from co-workers or management.

Yes
No

25. Males tend to occupy management positions associated with “bold leadership,” “aggressiveness,” and great “responsibility.”

Yes
No

26. Females tend to occupy management positions associated with “housekeeping” duties such as human resources, office management, or accounting.

Yes
No

27. My boss (if male) depends on me for nurturing and/or emotional support. (If your boss is female, answer “no” to this question.

Yes
No

28. At my workplace, it is important for the males to feel dominant over others.

Yes
No

29. At my workplace, I believe that men are paid more than women for similar work.

Yes
No

30. At my workplace, I believe that men typically receive higher raises than women employees.

Yes
No

31. At my workplace, I am aware of at least one case where a male was unfairly promoted over a qualified woman.

Yes
No

32. Males, for the most part, occupy the largest and best work spaces at my workplace (such as large or window offices, with walls and doors).

Yes
No

33. Women at my workplace, for the most part, occupy interior pods or cubicles with high accessibility (no doors).

Yes
No

34. Males occupy all or nearly all the decision-making, authority and supervisory positions at my workplace.

Yes
No

35. Women lack any real power in the organization at my workplace.

Yes
No

36. Women occupy all or most subordinate positions at my work.

Yes
No

37. Women are called by their first names, in person and on interoffice telephone lists, even if they are managers.

Yes
No

38. Men are called by their last names (with or without the title “Mr.”) in person or on interoffice phone lists.

Yes
No

39. Men feel free to stand in the hallways and socialize at my workplace.

Yes
No

40. Women feel they must remain at their workstations and can leave only for specific reasons.

Yes
No

41. Men enter women’s workstations freely.

Yes
No

42. Women typically wait to be admitted to a man’s workstation or office.

Yes
No

43. Women make the food and clean up for office celebrations and client meetings.

Yes
No

44. Women seem to feel they should not or cannot challenge the authority or pronouncements of males.

Yes
No

45. Women are usually excluded from staff meetings.

Yes
No

46. Women are usually excluded from problem-solving related to office issues—their opinions are typically not asked.

Yes
No

47. Most decisions are made primarily by men, behind closed doors.

Yes
No

48. Women seldom initiate problem-solving ideas outside their immediate job description.

Yes
No

49. Women are punished more severely than males for breaking unwritten rules of the workplace; the punishment usually has economic consequences.

Yes
No

50. Males in my organization hold the power of evaluating job performance of the women and therefore pay increases, job promotions and privileges.

Yes
No

Now click on the Submit button below. After your score has been calculated, return to this page by clicking the back button, and click here to see the scoring criteria.