Mary Ann Sieghart (Why do some men behave badly? I think I have the answer, 6 December) argues that one of the main reasons why some men behave inappropriately is because of a power imbalance. She cites research evidence that a sense of male superiority and entitlement starts early – in parental attitudes and teacher behaviour. I found her arguments partly, but not totally, convincing. The studies she cites about gender socialisation and classroom interaction have been around since the 1980s (eg Dale Spender and Elizabeth Sarah’s Learning to Lose: Sexism and Education, 1980), including my own research. It’s pretty depressing that little has changed since then.
But while these findings may help to explain why many women still face problems in career progression – and why women in junior positions may hesitate to highlight men’s sexist behaviour – I don’t think they explain why some men engage in outrageous sexual harassment.
