How Does Industry Gender Ratio Affect Workplace Sexual Assault against Women? - A Panel Analysis in Canada

Abstract

Sexual assault against women has become a serious crime with a high incidence in Canada. As a form of sexual assault, workplace sexual assault not only does harm to women’s physical and mental health, but also to their career development and financial situation. Thus, to reduce and eliminate workplace sexual assault against women is of great significance. According to the sex-role spillover model by Gutek and Morasch and the integrated model by Fitzgerald and colleagues, the industry gender ratio, i.e. the proportion of male to female in industries, is a potential determinant to the occurrence of workplace sexual assault against women. However, a gap in the current knowledge of workplace sexual assault against women was revealed that no research has addressed relationships between industry gender ratio and workplace sexual assault in a Canadian context. This study wishes to find if how industry gender ratio affects workplace sexual assault against women. After reviewing the previous studies in workplace sexual assault and Canada’s policies against it, a panel data analysis using a Canadian nationwide survey dataset was conducted to explore the relationship between industry male share and female victim share of workplace sexual assault. The analysis found that on average a 100% increase in industry male share is significantly associated with a 4.8% decrease in female victim share of workplace sexual assault, holding age, province fixed effects, industry fixed effects and time fixed effects constant. This result suggests that industry gender ratio has a significant impact on workplace sexual assault against women in a Canadian context. With regard to the literature review and the empirical analysis, policies and strategies related to industry gender ratio are recommended to contribute to the reduction and elimination of workplace sexual assault in Canada.