Risking relationships: Understanding the litigation choices of sexually harassed women

Resource mobilization and gender socialization theories go a long way towar d explaining why so many sexually harassed women opt not to report their pr oblems, but they shed little light on why some still choose to take action and sue. This article examines how relationality can affect a sexually hara ssed woman's decision to sue. An analysis of 31 litigation narratives shows that regardless of the severity of the harassment, or the amount of legal aid available, maternal responsibilities, marital commitments and parental approval can become pivotal considerations. Some considered the integrity o f familial ties to be priceless assets worth suing for. Others deemed them too valuable to risk losing in a contest over rights. These narratives conf irm feminist assertions that relationships-especially familial ones-often p lay a central role in the choices that women make. They also challenge popu lar assumptions about what constitutes a "personal choice" and under what c ircumstances women are likely to chose to litigate.