Double disadvantage: Disability and gender in the context of workplace harassment.

This study focused on verbal and physical harassment at work. Taking an intersectionality perspective, we examined whether the experiences of harassment, the target’s reaction, and perceived resolution depend on the disability status and biological sex. We expanded the current research on workplace harassment by following with target action-taking and resolution. Using the Canadian General Social Survey, we examined the relationships among disability status (no disability, physical, or mental/psychological disability), biological sex, and experiences of verbal and physical harassment at work. Results indicated that females and males with mental/psychological disabilities were more likely to experience verbal harassment. Males with mental/psychological disabilities experienced the highest rate of verbal harassment (19.6%) and a low rate of resolution (54.8% unresolved). Females with mental/psychological disabilities reported the highest rate of physical harassment (4.3%) and achieved a 65.1% satisfactory perceived resolution after actively addressing it. Males with physical disabilities reported the lowest rate of physical harassment (.6%); only 24.4% of them actively addressed the situation, but their situation was 100% successfully resolved. These findings suggest different patterns with regard to verbal and physical harassment at work, depending on disability status and biological sex. Males with mental health/psychological disability appear to experience particular disad...
Source: Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research