Men are #METOO, too

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a silent killer. The effects of staying silent are just as deadly as getting hit by a car. When a victim stays silent and continues to go back to the same place where the incident occurs can cause severe emotional trauma and increase the stress that is already a part of their lives. Psychologists state that those who have experienced sexual assault in the workplace are prone to anxiety and depression. If kept quiet this depression can turn into long-term depression which is debilitating and can negatively affect a person’s career trajectory.

Some who have survived sexual assaults or harassment show signs of PTSD. The signs for PTSD are complex and different for each person, but the most common signs are mood swings, angry outbursts or super aggressive driving, avoidance of people, and trouble sleeping due to nightmares. Imagine trying to get ahead of your career while facing such debilitating mental exhaustion?

We never want to see our loved ones going through such challenging terrain. We want to swoop them up into our arms and tell them it is all going to be okay. But sometimes it takes more than just a hug. Sometimes it takes therapy, medication, time off, and medical attention. This takes time and money. Does this mean taking time off of work or finding a completely different job? But does anyone really have time to do that? What if you were at your dream job? How can one person affect your life that greatly? How can one experience ruin your dreams? Are you just not good enough? Are you just not “man” enough?

Men account for 17% of sexual harassment claims. That may not sound like a lot, but that’s because most incidents go unfiled. Men are more likely not to complain because they believe it is harder to believe that a man is sexually harassed than a woman. Despite there being countless stories of men being sexually harassed it is still not a common belief that women would exhibit that kind of behavior in the workplace. However, most psychologists and experts know that sexual harassment doesn’t really have anything to do with gender. Instead, it has everything to do with exerting power and dominance over a subordinate. Regardless of whether that person in power is a male or female, the desire to exert such power and mix it with sexual behavior is always a luring option.

If you are a man or woman experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace it may seem intimidating or extreme to go to a lawyer. Rest assured it is not and our Los Angeles sexual harassment attorneys at Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers want you to know that we will do our best to make sure that you do not feel alone in this process. You shouldn’t have to leave your work because of a hostile work environment. Call 310-527-6994 or click here to see how our sexual harassment attorneys can help you find a better chance of resolving this traumatic situation.