Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace—Lessons to Be Learned

ABSTRACT This paper examines the impact of the hashtag social movement #BalanceTonPorc on women in France who have experienced workplace sexual harassment. The study aims to explore the extent to which the movement has inspired targets to report incidents of harassment and to seek justice, as well as to evaluate its influence on their self‐awareness of harassment. Moreover, it identifies factors within the movement that may have limited its effectiveness in achieving positive outcomes. Drawing on interview data, the findings reveal that although participants expressed awareness of and appreciation for the movement, they perceived it as ineffective in driving meaningful change in their daily lives, workplace practices, or societal recognition of their rights. These results challenge the perception of hashtag activism as a definitive solution to workplace sexual harassment, underscoring the need for more comprehensive strategies and systemic efforts to address this pervasive issue.

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Publication Details

Journal
Gender Work and Organization
Published
2025-08-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.70017
Primary Topic
Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace—Lessons to Be Learned

Karen Middleton, Jessica Lichy
Gender Work and Organization
Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
article

Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace—Lessons to Be Learned

Karen Middleton, Jessica Lichy
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper examines the impact of the hashtag social movement #BalanceTonPorc on women in France who have experienced workplace sexual harassment. The study aims to explore the extent to which the movement has inspired targets to report incidents of harassment and to seek justice, as well as to evaluate its influence on their self‐awareness of harassment. Moreover, it identifies factors within the movement that may have limited its effectiveness in achieving positive outcomes. Drawing on interview data, the findings reveal that although participants expressed awareness of and appreciation for the movement, they perceived it as ineffective in driving meaningful change in their daily lives, workplace practices, or societal recognition of their rights. These results challenge the perception of hashtag activism as a definitive solution to workplace sexual harassment, underscoring the need for more comprehensive strategies and systemic efforts to address this pervasive issue.

Gender Work and OrganizationVol. 33(1)
Business France (FR), University of Portsmouth (GB), University of Pretoria (ZA), Széchenyi István University (HU)
Gender equality
Openalex Percentile: Top 74%
Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
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