Our mission is to end sexual harassment

in the workplace in Hawai‘i

through collaboration

A REPORT OF SURVEY FINDINGS

November 2019
workplace sexual harassment impacts our Aloha state understanding
The 2019 survey of Hawai‘i employees found:
sexual harassment
Sexual harassment in the workplace can take
Nearly half of survey many forms beyond what is commonly visible on
respondents reported being the surface and in public consciousness. A deeper
sexually harrassed while awareness is the first step in prevention.
working in Hawai‘i
51% 49%
sexual coercion
job promise in exchange for sex
who is most at risk? Every gender, age, ethnicity, education level, geographic, and industry group job threat in exchange for sex
forcing a sexual act
exposing genitals
reported harassment. The highest rates are depicted: unwelcome sexual touching
threats of harm

unwanted sexual attention

GENDER women men AGE 25–34 emailing/texting sexual content
55–64
52% 42% 56%
42% talking about body parts taking and/or sharing sexual
sexually explicit comments pictures or videos of you
asking sexual questions

/////////////////////////PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS///////////////////
EDUCATION doctoral ETHNICITY
or professional 33% other Hawaiian/
Korean ethnicity Pacific
degree 64%
58% Islander
gender harassment
68% some
55%
college
sexist slurs like “Bitch,” “Slut,” “Cunt,” or “Ho”
repeatedly texting or calling
repeatedly asking for a date or phone number
GEOGRAPHY Respondents from all four counties INDUSTRY following /stalking
reported sexual harassment
giving inappropriate gifts
manufacturing technology nonprofit hospitality/ whistling, honking
travel making kissy noises, “Pssst” sounds
75% 67% 59%
58%
55% 49% 49% 47% leering/staring aggressively
saying things like, ‘Hey Baby,’ ‘Mmmm Sexy,’ ‘Hey Hottie’
Survey participants responded to
all of the above sexual harassment examples.

Survey participants responded to

where does it occur? perpetrators reporting all of the above sexual harassment examples.
Additional sexually harassing behaviors are:
stranger only
18% reported to HR
Giving unwanted “aloha” hugs or kisses
office or after-hours 34%
Demeaning comments about gender or gender identity
worksite events coworker client/ Spreading sexual rumors or gossip
68% 33% 55% customer residents living here
28% 10 or fewer years lifelong residents Telling sexual stories or jokes
28%
twice as likely half as likely to
phone calls + texts to report report
25% boss/authority
 workplace leadership
makes a difference
Respondents who believed that their employers
took workplace sexual harassment “somewhat
seriously” were statistically less likely to be
sexually harassed than those who perceived
that their employers took workplace sexual
harassment only “somewhat” seriously (44%
versus 66%).
sexual harassment training
makes a difference
Rates of sexual harassment were statistically higher in those
organizations that did not have training versus those that did (86%
versus 72%).
Victims who indicated their organization did not have sexual
harassment training were statistically more likely to be harassed by a
supervisor than those who were unsure whether their organization had
training (29% versus 8%).

Respondents who reported that their organizations did not have

established policies or procedures in harassment were statistically
more likely to witness an array of sexual harassment than those whose
organizations did have established policies/procedures.

What’s next stay connected with us

please go to safespacesandworkplaces.com
1) Become a Champion or Supporter today! Join this first-ever hui of local leaders and community
supporters who are committed to ending sexual harassment in Hawaii workplaces. We will need
everyone’s kōkua.

2) Keep listening and learning by subscribing to our mailing list. We’ll be highlighting local stories
of employers and employees and sharing important resources and upcoming events you won’t want
to miss.

3) Share your thoughts with us at safespacesandworkplaces.com. Your feedback

will help inform the resources Safe Spaces & Workplaces will offer to employers, employees, and
accused harassers.

mahalo to our founding champions & torchbearers

One
Shared
Future