10 Ways Sexuality is Present in the Workplace

Sexuality in the workplace is becoming a hot topic these days. Whether referring to flirting between coworkers or more blatant activities, sexuality is a highly debated workplace issue.

Women tend to try to use sexuality for advancing their positions in the workplace more than men, but with less success. Up to 49% of women admit to having done something provocative to try and better their position in their place of employment, while the rest denied having ever attempted anything of the sort.

The most common sexual behaviors that women engage in include wearing revealing clothing, bending over so men can see up their skirts or down their blouses, and crossing their legs in a sexual manner. Here are the top ten behaviors associated with sexuality in the workplace:

1. Wearing a short skirt or see-through blouse.

2. Flirting with co-workers, bosses and clients.

3. Drawing eyes to legs by wearing short skirts and crossing legs provocatively in front of bosses and clients.

4. Acting as if attracted to male co-workers, although this might not be the case.

5. Showing off cleavage, leaning over to give a good look down the blouse.

6. Touching shoulders or giving little massages while at work.

7. Writing and sending flirty messages by email to coworkers.

8. Commenting on how sexy or hot a client or a co-worker is, in front of them.

9. Making hugs last a long time, pressing certain body parts against male co-workers, clients and bosses.

10. Showing off sexuality through movement, speech and clothing. The interesting fact behind these antics is that the women using sexuality in their careers generally earned between $50,000- $75,000, while women who were careful about how they acted around male co-workers and wore more subtle clothing were actually in the next income bracket up, $75,000-$100,000. It just goes to show that feminine charms don't work every time!

While many women consider career-based sexuality to be debasing and low, the majority of men are not inclined to think the same way. Male co-workers are far less likely to attempt to get a raise by flaunting their sexuality, but they say they enjoy it when a woman does so.

Up until recently, workplace sexuality studies were based only on sexual harassment and men were the usual target. However many men claim that without their female co-workers attempting to seduce them, they would never have engaged in any form of sexual harassment or other form of sexuality. This has caused a major debate in the workplace, as you can imagine!

New studies are being done now to look at both sexes and how they interact during the average workday. It is an area that has been long neglected and it is finally coming to the light.

While sexuality in the workplace may never go away, it is time to get a few things straightened out. Both men and women can be guilty of job-related sexuality and if one is not to be punished, perhaps the other shouldn't be either. Or perhaps the punishment is in the lowered salary of flirtatious career women!