SEX, POWER, AND BOUNDARIES - Hardcover

Rutter M.D., Peter

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 055309954X ISBN 13: 9780553099546

Publisher: Bantam, 1996

Synopsis

Drawing on actual incidents and extensive research, a guide to sexual harassment analyzes the differences between the sexes, the myths that surround sexuality, current laws, and the Reasonable Woman/Reasonable Man concept. 25,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.

About this title

About the Author

Peter Rutter, M.D., is an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California Medical School, San Francisco.

Reviews

As women have increasingly moved into the workplace and into higher-level positions, the consciousness of sexual harassment has grown, as have legal sanctions against it. Ritter (Sex in the Forbidden Zone), on the faculty at UC-San Francisco, lays great stress on the subject of boundaries beyond which people should not go nor permit others to go. A term that recurs in his excellent study is unwelcome?applied to the unwanted boundary-crossings that constitute harassment. He examines the role of fantasy (more of a problem for males) and flirting, and always returns to the definition of the Reasonable Female and the Reasonable Male as individuals who do not misinterpret a collegial pat on the shoulder as an advance. He offers useful advice for women (and occasionally men) who are sexually harassed, especially in situations of unequal power, and for organizations that want to avoid the public embarrassment of harassment suits.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A psychiatrist offers an encouraging and informative report on sexual harassment today, in a book suited to both male and female readers. All too often men try to act out their sexual fantasies at work; all too often women have been socialized not to protect themselves against these incursions. Sexual harassment policies, however, alert everyone to these issues. Rutter says: ``We are all inescapably involved in an unprecedented reconfiguring of the most important rules of daily social behavior--how we treat one another at our sexual boundaries.'' He offers helpful advice to men and women about getting along, being respectful, and above all, reasonable. And as in his previous book, Sex in the Forbidden Zone (1989), Rutter identifies common sexual boundary violations, discusses ways men can manage their sexual fantasies, and discourages relationships between people of unequal power. He maintains that the best way for workplaces and schools to stop sexual harassment is to establish and enforce clear policies. But the surest means of changing the sexist attitudes that lead to harassment is for other men to take the lead--condemning the old standards and engaging in new ethical and equitable behavior toward women. At the end of the book, Rutter presents a sample sexual harassment policy, several landmark legal decisions, and extensive lists of legal and psychological resources. His knowledge, first- hand counseling experience, and understanding of complex gender issues lend his book credibility. The weak spots stem from the author's overzealous support of his colleagues in the field, who he seems to believe can solve everything. The lay reader, however, may be skeptical when he suggests that employees involved in a workplace romance should inform the human resources officer so ``the officer can intervene more effectively should private tensions between the couple spill over,'' or when he recommends modified sexual harassment workshops for children, starting in the fourth grade. Nonetheless, a timely and thorough guide. -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Bantam
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 055309954X
• ISBN 13: 9780553099546
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 255