Answering accountability questions in sexual harassment: Insights regarding harassers, targets, and observers

Abstract

Despite the existence of formal organizational and legal policies, anecdotal literature suggests that sexual harassment remains prevalent. Harassers continue to harass, targets of harassment often respond passively, and observers seldom take action to prevent harassment by the harasser or help the target. This article uses accountability theory to help explain why sexual harassment remains commonplace. Specifically, research on accountability theory and sexual harassment is integrated in order to provide insights into the action or inaction of harassers, targets of harassment, and observers. We examine issues from accountability research that allow sexual harassers to renounce accountability for their actions. We address why targets of harassment often choose passive, rather than direct, responses to harassing incidents. In addition, we identify reasons why observers often fail to respond in a helpful way to prevent sexual harassment. The final discussion focuses on the implications of these arguments for future research.