About 15,000 sexual harassment cases are presented to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) each year. About 40% to 60% of women suffer from sexual harassment in the workplace. In 2002, a study on 8th to 11th graders found that 85% of the females and 78% of the males had been sexually harassed, either by other classmates, administrators, teachers or adults.
Those who are harassed often do worse at work, feel depressed, may lose trust in other people, and/or blame themselves for the harassment. When harassment is not reported it can be seen as the norm and as "not a big deal" for those being harassed. Harassers may also not realize how bad their actions are if no one says anything. They may also continue to harass other people.
