Category: Chapters

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Chai R. Feldblum & Victoria A. Lipnic, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace: Report of Co-Chairs (June 2016)

Chai R. Feldblum & Victoria A. Lipnic, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace: Report of Co-Chairs (June 2016)

“From April 2015 through June 2016, the Select Task Force held a series of meetings – some were open to the public for observation, some were closed working sessions, and others were a combination of both. In the course of a year, the Select Task Force received testimony from more than 30 witnesses, and received numerous public comments. The activities of the Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace are set out in detail in Appendix A.

The first part of this report considers what we know (and do not know) about workplace harassment. The second part turns to potential solutions for responding to, and preventing, workplace harassment. Several selections of the report include recommendations based on the information presented in that section. The recommendations are offered to EEOC, employers and employer associations, employees and employee associations, other government agencies, academic researchers, and foundations.”

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Danielle Christenson, Chain of Command: The Barriers of Reporting Sexual Assault in the Military (2014).

Danielle Christenson, Chain of Command: The Barriers of Reporting Sexual Assault in the Military (2014).

“Reported rates of sexual assault in the military have increased dramatically over the past 10 years (Groves, 2013). One reason for the pervasiveness of sexual assault is the reporting structure. Despite changes in the way sexual assault complaints are handled, there continue to be numerous sexual assault scandals (Childress, 2013). The purpose of this study is to examine how the military’s chain of command influences the reporting procedures, and how this may influence the military’s ability to prevent sexual assaults. This thesis examines three case studies specifically focusing on military sexual assault reporting.”

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Lindsay Rosenthal & Lawrence Korb, Center for American Progress, Twice Betrayed Bringing Justice to the U.S. Military’s Sexual Assault Problem (2013)

Lindsay Rosenthal & Lawrence Korb, Center for American Progress, Twice Betrayed Bringing Justice to the U.S. Military’s Sexual Assault Problem (2013)

“This report discusses what is known about sexual assault in the military and outlines key reform goals to combat the problem. We argue that removing cases from the chain of command is a necessary step that the military must take to address military sexual assault. Taking the decision to prosecute assault cases out of the chain of command is critical to reduce sexual violence and hold sexual predators in the armed forces accountable. We discuss changes that need to be made, including increasing accountability for perpetrators and military leadership, improving victim services, increasing reporting of sex crimes to military authorities, and improving data collection and transparency related to sexual assault in the armed forces.”

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Thomas v. District of Columbia, 887 F. Supp. 1 (D.D.C. 1995)

Thomas v. District of Columbia, 887 F. Supp. 1 (D.D.C. 1995)

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia held that the plaintiff, who had been subjected to a quid pro quo environment, had met his prima facie burden of establishing that a corrections officer is not entitled to immunity from the plaintiff’s claims. Plaintiff claimed that the sergeant “threatened, coerced, and attempted to force another inmate to engage in sexual relations with him.” Additionally, the court held that “that any reasonable prison official would have known that to try to force an unwanted and prohibited sexual act on an inmate is objectively unreasonable and in violation of the inmate’s rights.”

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Sexual Assault on College Campuses, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health (Sept. 2018)

Sexual Assault on College Campuses, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health (Sept. 2018).

“Sexual assault on college campuses is a common problem that often goes unreported. It includes any unwanted sexual activity, from unwanted touching to rape. Alcohol and drugs often play a role in sexual assault on campuses. If you have been sexually assaulted, it is not your fault. You are not alone, and you can get help.”

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David Cantor et al., AAUW/Westat, Report on the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct (Oct. 20, 2017)

David Cantor et al., AAUW/Westat, Report on the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct (Oct. 20, 2017).

“Members of the Association of American Universities (AAU) are working to combat sexual assault and misconduct on their campuses. As an association of research universities, AAU decided in 2014 that the best way to help its members address this issue was to develop and implement a scientific survey to better understand the attitudes and experiences of their students with respect to sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The survey’s primary goal was to provide participating institutions of higher education (IHEs) with information to inform their policies to prevent and respond to sexual assault and misconduct. In addition, members hoped that the survey would provide useful information to policymakers as well as make a significant contribution to the body of academic research on this complex issue.”

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Nick Anderson & Scott Clement, 1 in 5 College Women Say They Were Violated, Wash. Post (June 12, 2015)

Nick Anderson & Scott Clement, 1 in 5 College Women Say They Were Violated, Wash. Post (June 12, 2015).

“The Washington Post and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation teamed up to poll more than 1,000 people nationwide who have attended college within the past four years about sexual assault and campus culture. Post reporters then interviewed more than 50 women and men who responded that they had experienced unwanted sexual contact — or attempted or suspected sexual contact — while they were students. The series looks at the prevalence of sexual assault among college students and the factors that play a role in those assaults.”