A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of the Workplace Challenges Experienced by Women

Abstract

This dissertation explores the persistent workplace challenges experienced by women through three interrelated studies using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Despite decades of progress, women continue to face structural barriers, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and emotional labor demands that shape their professional experiences. The first study analyzes GSS data to examine the impact of the #MeToo movement on self- reports of sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Results show an increase in reporting sexual harassment among White men and Women of color. With respect to men of color and white women, the results were not significant or did not show an increase. For gender discrimination, reporting increased significantly among men but not women. These findings suggest uneven effects of #MeToo and highlights ongoing barriers to disclosure, particularly among women of color. The second study identifies occupations that constitute the “emotional proletariat. ” These are jobs marked by high employer control and public interaction. Roles such as waitstaff, bus drivers, and emergency medical technicians fall into this category and are disproportionately filled by women. The third study examines media coverage of workplace sexual harassment during the #MeToo movement. Newspapers largely centered on high-profile cases involving affluent White women, often neglecting the experiences of women of color and those in low-wage jobs. Additionally, the media’s focus on individual perpetrators over systemic issues limited broader public understanding. The coverage also reflected fears of retaliation and a culture of silence that discourages reporting.