AMBIVALENCE AND STEREOTYPES CAUSE SEXUAL HARASSMENT - A THEORY WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL-CHANGE

We theorize that sexual harassment in the workplace results from the c omplex interplay of ambivalent motives and gender stereotyping of wome n and jobs. Ambivalence combines hostile and ''benevolent'' sexist mot ives based on paternalism, gender differentiation, and heterosexuality . Stereotyped images of women and jobs also reflect these three dimens ions. Together, these ambivalent motives and stereotyped cognitions pr omote sexual harassment of different types. Organizational content can encourage or discourage the cognitive-motivational dimensions that un derlie sexual harassment.