Gender Differences in College Students’ Perceptions of Same-Sex Sexual Harassment: The Influence of Physical Attractiveness and Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men

Abstract

This study examined college students’ perceptions of same-sex harassment as a function of the observer’s gender, the initiator’s physical attractiveness, and observers’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Ninety-six college students read a scenario portraying a professor’s sexual advances toward a student. The Perception of Harassment Questionnaire and the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scale were completed. Male and female students had similar perceptions of harassment. Unattractive professors were perceived to be more harassing, especially by male students. Students with negative attitudes toward homosexuality perceived higher levels of harassment. These results have important implications for charges of same-sex harassment in academia.