How prevalent was sexual harassment in 1960's & 1970's offices?
Sexual harassment was a pervasive and deeply entrenched issue in workplaces during the 1960s and 1970s, though it was often ignored, tolerated, or dismissed.
Historical Context
In the early 20th century and continuing into the 1960s, women in the workforce frequently faced sexual coercion, physical and verbal assaults, and other forms of harassment with little to no legal recourse. Social norms and gender roles of the time contributed to a culture where such behavior was often tolerated or overlooked235.
1960s
During the 1960s, as women's participation in the workforce increased, so did the prevalence of sexual harassment. However, it was rarely discussed openly, and victims had limited avenues for reporting or seeking justice. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, particularly Title VII, laid the groundwork for addressing employment discrimination, including sex discrimination, although it did not explicitly mention sexual harassment at the time24.
1970s
The 1970s marked a significant turning point in the recognition and addressing of sexual harassment. Here are some key points:
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Emergence of the Term: The phrase "sexual harassment" was coined in 1975 by a group of women at Cornell University, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem. A survey by Redbook in 1976 found that 80% of respondents had encountered sexual harassment on the job3.
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Landmark Cases: Several landmark cases in the 1970s helped define and establish legal precedents for sexual harassment. Cases such as Barnes v. Train (1974), Williams v. Saxbe (1976), and Barnes v. Costle (1977) recognized sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 196424.
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Hostile Environment and Quid Pro Quo: The 1970s saw the development of key legal theories by feminist attorneys like Catharine MacKinnon, who distinguished between "hostile working environment" and "quid pro quo" types of harassment. These definitions were crucial in shaping future legal interpretations and protections3.
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Blue Collar Women: Working-class women, particularly those in male-dominated fields like mining and construction, faced severe forms of harassment, including physical violence, verbal abuse, and sexual assault. Their activism and lawsuits significantly contributed to public policy changes and raised public awareness of the issue1.
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Public Awareness and Media: The issue gained more public attention through media coverage, including a widely reprinted New York Times article in 1975 and the 1980 film Nine to Five. This increased awareness led to greater recognition of the problem and more vigorous efforts to address it3.
In summary, sexual harassment was highly prevalent in offices during the 1960s and 1970s, but it was only in the 1970s that it began to be recognized and addressed through legal and social movements.