You are here

UCF Digital Collections ยป ETD Collection

Millennials Making Meanings: Social Constructions of Sexual Harassment regarding Gender and Power by Generation Y

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
2015
Abstract/Description:
The term sexual harassment was brought to light by legal scholar Catharine MacKinnon during the second wave feminist movement in the 1970s, and has since changed in its meaning over the past four decades, influencing policy, legal action, and the way we, as a society, treat this social problem. Millennials, or those born between 1980 and 2000, will be the next generation of working adults that will influence the way sexual harassment is understood and defined both legally and socially. The Millennial generation is typically considered liberal and socially conscious, prompting the research question of (")How do Millennials socially construct sexual harassment in terms of gender and power?(") Eighteen semi-structured interviews with adult Millennials up to age 33 were conducted. Analysis was informed by feminist theory, social constructionism, and critical race theory. Results showed while Millennials are quick to speak about inclusion of men as targets of sexual harassment, they did so at the cost of frankly discussing that women are targeted more often than men. Combined with the ability to discuss individual causes of sexual harassment compared to the structural, this led to my findings of(")gender-blind(") sexual harassment attitudes describing postfeminist beliefs among Millennials.
Title: Millennials Making Meanings: Social Constructions of Sexual Harassment regarding Gender and Power by Generation Y.
128 views
103 downloads
Name(s): Stark, Nicole, Author
Grauerholz, Liz, Committee Chair
Carter, Shannon, Committee Member
Anthony, Amanda, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2015
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: The term sexual harassment was brought to light by legal scholar Catharine MacKinnon during the second wave feminist movement in the 1970s, and has since changed in its meaning over the past four decades, influencing policy, legal action, and the way we, as a society, treat this social problem. Millennials, or those born between 1980 and 2000, will be the next generation of working adults that will influence the way sexual harassment is understood and defined both legally and socially. The Millennial generation is typically considered liberal and socially conscious, prompting the research question of (")How do Millennials socially construct sexual harassment in terms of gender and power?(") Eighteen semi-structured interviews with adult Millennials up to age 33 were conducted. Analysis was informed by feminist theory, social constructionism, and critical race theory. Results showed while Millennials are quick to speak about inclusion of men as targets of sexual harassment, they did so at the cost of frankly discussing that women are targeted more often than men. Combined with the ability to discuss individual causes of sexual harassment compared to the structural, this led to my findings of(")gender-blind(") sexual harassment attitudes describing postfeminist beliefs among Millennials.
Identifier: CFE0005719 (IID), ucf:50139 (fedora)
Note(s): 2015-05-01
M.A.
Sciences, Sociology
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): gender -- sexual harassment -- social constructionism -- feminism -- millennials
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005719
Restrictions on Access: public 2015-05-15
Host Institution: UCF

In Collections