How Common Is Sexual Harassment for Female Doctors?

Sexual harassment is a problem many avoid discussing. Sometimes, that may give people the impression that it is uncommon. The fact is, despite major progress, sexual harassment is still a very prevalent problem in the American workforce. A recent example of this comes in a new study showing that one third of all female doctors have faced sexual harassment during their careers.

In addition to this, three fourths of all female doctors mentioned facing major gender bias in the workplace. The same study found that only 4 percent of men in the profession report having been sexually harassed.

Becoming a practicing doctor is often seen as one of the highest career victories in our culture. Medical school is extremely competitive, and we tend to view doctors as some of the most skilled professionals in the economy. Even women with this high credential still must endure regular hostilities in workplace. This proves that sexual harassment is an issue even at the highest levels of professional life.

Have you experienced sexual harassment in the workplace?

Even though this is a common problem, these crimes often go unreported, because employees are afraid of retaliation from their employers. Here is a brief list of what qualifies as sexual harassment.

• Sexual jokes, insults or gestures
• Disrespectful remarks about a person’s gender
• Offers to give favors in exchange for sexual activities
• Any sexual behavior that creates a hostile work environment

Our culture has a long journey ahead in creating a fair and safe work environment for everyone, but the law can help protect victims of these crimes. If you are the victim of sexual harassment or other forms of discrimination, the law is here to fight for you.

Dan A. Atkerson is a Dallas employment attorney who fights to empower victims if workplace injustic