DETERMINANTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT COPING STRATEGIES IN MEXICAN AMERICAN AND ANGLO WOMEN.

Abstract

This study investigated the differences between Mexican American and Anglo women in coping strategies after being sexually harassed. A multi-dimensional framework was used to classify coping strategies and predict responses to incidents of sexual harassment. Research questions were explored using a two-phase approach: a qualitative study based on interviews with 19 sexual harassment victims and a quantitative analysis based on a survey questionnaire administered to 657 women. The quantitative study reaffirmed the qualitative study which suggested that Mexican American women's choice of coping strategies would be less confrontational and less assertive than those used by Anglo women. Cultural variables such as collectivism, power distance and machismo significantly influenced choice of coping strategy. Seeking Social Support was the most utilized strategy by both groups of women yet none of the cultural or structural variables included in the analysis were related to this coping strategy. One particularly striking finding was that organizational responsiveness increased the likelihood that Anglo women, but not Mexican American women, would utilize a Direct Behavior (Confront) coping strategy. This finding has important implications for organizations since substantial resources are devoted to developing systems that will solicit complaints of harassment. If Mexican American women are unaffected by these types of efforts and won't seek organizational assistance even when the organizational climate is extremely conducive to doing so then we, as organizational representatives, have to develop different mechanisms targeting Latina victims.