Is There Really a Fine Line Between Sexual Harassment and Flirtation?: an Exploratory Study

This study is an exploratory study of how college students differentiate between flirtation and sexual harassment. Many studies have previously focused on sexual harrassment in the workplace and academia, however, few researchers have studied peer harassment within college students. The present study was conducted by designing three short video vignettes of potentially sexually harassing scenarios which were then shown to three different groups of students: an all male group, an all female group, and a mixed sex group. After individuals viewed these tapes, a moderator asked the students open-ended questions to examine how each group interacted and communicated about sexual harassment and flirtation. Data indicated that men and women communicate and label both sexual harassment differently when in same sex groups than when they are in mixed sex groups.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts in Communication

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication

Year

1997

Author dc:creator

• Ratermann, Jill M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Randy Dillon

• Communication

Statement dc:rights

• © Jill M Ratermann

Repository record dc:identifier

https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/309

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1310