ABSTRACT

Awareness and understanding grew as women began entering the workforce in larger numbers and the women's movement and sexual revolution of the 1970s gradually altered society's perceptions of the genders. As various components of the legal system gave shape and form to sexual harassment law under Title VII, collegiate institutions recognized responsibility for discouraging and controlling sexual harassment. While the legal dimensions of the issue have become increasingly secure and clear, definitional ambiguity remains a problem. Quid pro quo sexual harassment is widely understood and censured because the wrong of an authority figure threatening or attempting to bribe a student or employee for sex is obvious. Beyond concerns about definitional ambiguity lies the even more imposing issue of whether sexual harassment prohibitions limit academic freedom and freedom of speech. Despite limitations in survey methodology, an overview of contemporary research generates several "safe" and probably conservative statistics.