Sexual Harassment at Work: Three Explanatory Models

This article explores three models of sexual harassment derived from previous research, court cases and legal defenses: the Natural/Biological Model, the Organizational Model, and the Sociocultural Model. Data from a large (N=20, 083) stratified random sample of the federal workforce are analyzed in relation to these models. No clear‐cut support for any one model emerges, and the picture of sexual harassment painted by these data appears to be more complex and varied than earlier, self‐selected samples initially suggested. The results are discussed in light of the difficulties of using large‐scale survey techniques to investigate complex cultural phenomena, and suggestions are made for future research approaches that could complement survey techniques.