Training Programs and Reporting Systems Won't End Sexual Harassment. Promoting More Women Will.

Sexual harassment flourishes in workplaces where men dominate in management and in fields where few women hold the “core” jobs (think law enforcement and tech). Research shows that bringing more women into these roles can solve the problem at its roots. But companies know they can get away with cosmetic fixes instead. They stay out of legal trouble by requiring anti-harassment training and setting up grievance systems. Though training does increase the number of women in management at the organizational level, it can also antagonize likely harassers, making the problem worse at the individual level. And grievance systems often backfire, because harassers retaliate against people who complain. Until more women are in power and can shape workplace culture, it’s up to the men at the top to do that, by taking a strong public stand against harassment, being the first in line for training, and chairing the committees tasked with solving the problem