--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sexual harassment in the workplace…" description: "\"Sexual harassment in the workplace confuses rewards for performance with rewards for attractiveness and sexual availability.\" — Warren Farrell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/warren-farrell-1187_attractiveness_sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confu_1084247.png" --- # Sexual harassment in the workplace confuses rewards for… ![“Sexual harassment in the workplace confuses rewards for performance with rewards for attractiveness and sexual availability.” quote by Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/warren-farrell-1187_attractiveness_sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confu_1084247.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/warren-farrell-1187_attractiveness_sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confu_1084247.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/warren-farrell-1187_attractiveness_sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confu_1084247.png) > “Sexual harassment in the workplace confuses rewards for performance with rewards for attractiveness and sexual availability.” [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Workplace sexual harassment blurs the line between merit and appearance, rewarding attractiveness over competence. **In simple terms:** Harassment mixes merit with looks. Key Takeaway Separate performance from appearance in evaluations. Themes ethics gender workplace power dynamics Mood critical analytical Type social political When to use this quote - performance reviews - team meetings - recruitment - policy drafting Key Concepts bias objectification inequality Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations enforce fair evaluation? - What safeguards prevent bias? A Different Perspective Changing culture requires systemic policy and education. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attractiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attractiveness/) [Attractiveness Sexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attractiveness-sexual-2768877/) [Availability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/availability/) [Harassment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harassment/) [Harassment Workplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harassment-workplace-883779/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Rewards Attractiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards-attractiveness-2768876/) [Sexual Harassment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual-harassment/) [Workplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workplace/) ## Related quotes > [We talk about sexual harassment in the workplace, but there's sexual harassment in schools, right? There's sexual harassment on the street. So there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarana-burke/we-talk-about-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-but-there-s-sexual/) [Tarana Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarana-burke/) > [Colleges are a unique space in our culture. They're a temporary constellation of humans, like a workplace. And the rules about sexual assault and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-grigoriadis/colleges-are-a-unique-space-in-our-culture-they-re-a-temporary/) [Vanessa Grigoriadis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-grigoriadis/) > [In a sense, sexual harassment lawsuits are just the latest version of the female selection process allowing her to select for men who care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/in-a-sense-sexual-harassment-lawsuits-are-just-the-latest-version-of/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Sexual harassment legislation in its present form makes all men unequal to all women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-legislation-in-its-present-form-makes-all-men/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Sexual harassment legislation feels unfair to men because if they sued over an ethnic joke, or over a woman discussing pornography or asking them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfair-to-men-because-if-they/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [It takes courage to come forward, and I don't want any victim of sexual harassment to think twice about doing so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/it-takes-courage-to-come-forward-and-i-don-t-want-any-victim-of/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [When women are told that sexual harassment is 'part of the job' or when assistants of both sexes enable harassing behavior, they have bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/when-women-are-told-that-sexual-harassment-is-part-of-the-job-or-when/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [“We live in a world in which women are battered and are unable to flee from the men who beat them, although their door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-kampusch/we-live-in-a-world-in-which-women-are-battered-and-are-unable-to-flee/) [Natascha Kampusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-kampusch/) > [“We have that sexual harassment conference that’s mandatory right after lunch.” He eyes me. “Oh, is it going to be given by Hannah?” I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-madison/we-have-that-sexual-harassment-conference-that-s-mandatory-right/) [Natasha Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-madison/) > [Sexual harassment law is very important. But I think it would be a mistake if the sexual harassment law movement is the only way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/sexual-harassment-law-is-very-important-but-i-think-it-would-be-a/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [I believe that victims of sexual harassment must be allowed to tell their story on their time, in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/i-believe-that-victims-of-sexual-harassment-must-be-allowed-to-tell/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [I'm all for teaching about important concepts like consent; I'm also very aware of how damaging and destructive it can be to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-timpf/i-m-all-for-teaching-about-important-concepts-like-consent-i-m-also/) [Kat Timpf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-timpf/) > [Sexual harassment and gender discrimination is real, it's far more pervasive than I think people have been willing to acknowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-west/sexual-harassment-and-gender-discrimination-is-real-it-s-far-more/) [Tony West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-west/) > [Whether it's Hollywood or Bollywood, sexual harassment is a reality. I've experienced it first-hand, and I know many of my counterparts have as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shenaz-treasury/whether-it-s-hollywood-or-bollywood-sexual-harassment-is-a-reality-i/) [Shenaz Treasury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shenaz-treasury/) > [“Technically this is assault and Henry would tell me to verbally request that you not file a sexual harassment claim against me,” she said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/technically-this-is-assault-and-henry-would-tell-me-to-verbally/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) ## More by Warren Farrell > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Sexual harassment legislation in its present form makes all men unequal to all women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-legislation-in-its-present-form-makes-all-men/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [By starving our children of men, we have made them more vulnerable to the very abuse we are trying to prevent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/by-starving-our-children-of-men-we-have-made-them-more-vulnerable-to/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [The legal bias for special protection for women has begun to wreak havoc with the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/the-legal-bias-for-special-protection-for-women-has-begun-to-wreak/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [After years of research, I discovered 25 differences in the work-life choices of men and women. All 25 lead to men earning more money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/after-years-of-research-i-discovered-25-differences-in-the-work-life/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [In the past we believed both sexes were born with original sin. Today, we have come to unconsciously believe in the original sin of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/in-the-past-we-believed-both-sexes-were-born-with-original-sin-today/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [If we hold the married man accountable for finances gone legally awry, then the married woman should be held accountable for children who go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/if-we-hold-the-married-man-accountable-for-finances-gone-legally-awry/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Black men, Indian men, and gay men have all have something in common: They do not provide an economic security blanket for women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/black-men-indian-men-and-gay-men-have-all-have-something-in-common/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [ In Stage I, divorces were not allowed, so men's \[sexual\] affairs did not put women's economic security in jeopardy; in Stage II, affairs could… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/in-stage-i-divorces-were-not-allowed-so-men-s-sexual-affairs-did-not/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Men tuned into women but not tuned into their own hurts usually retained the attitude that women needed special protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-tuned-into-women-but-not-tuned-into-their-own-hurts-usually/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [We have restricted humans from giving 'free' food to bears and dolphins because we know that such feeding would make them dependent and lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/we-have-restricted-humans-from-giving-free-food-to-bears-and-dolphins/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Irony: While we increasingly hold people more responsible if they drink and drive, we hold women less responsible if they drink and have sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/irony-while-we-increasingly-hold-people-more-responsible-if-they/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [A family that knows how to play together has the tools to stay together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/a-family-that-knows-how-to-play-together-has-the-tools-to-stay/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [For example, the equivalent of a woman being treated as a sex object is a man being treated as a success object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/for-example-the-equivalent-of-a-woman-being-treated-as-a-sex-object/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Sometimes I have a feeling, when I look back on my life, that all I've been through has prepared me perfectly for just what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sometimes-i-have-a-feeling-when-i-look-back-on-my-life-that-all-i-ve/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) [Explore all 277 Warren Farrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) ## More Attractiveness quotes > [“Once you tell a man he's pretty, there's no taking it back. They think they're pretty all the time, and I suppose, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros-author/once-you-tell-a-man-he-s-pretty-there-s-no-taking-it-back-they-think/) [Sandra Cisneros (Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros-author/) > [“She has built her whole life on the foundation of beauty: each chiseled plane, each sloping dimple, each soft curve as crucial as keystones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/she-has-built-her-whole-life-on-the-foundation-of-beauty-each/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [I'm not exactly Don Draper when it comes to physical attractiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-m-not-exactly-don-draper-when-it-comes-to-physical-attractiveness/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [“She is not conventionally beautiful or accomplished or elegant,” Magnus continued, “but she is attractive. She does not even know how much, but every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/she-is-not-conventionally-beautiful-or-accomplished-or-elegant-magnus/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [The adventurous state of mind is a high house... The joy of adventure is unaccountable. This is the attractiveness of artwork. It is adventurous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/the-adventurous-state-of-mind-is-a-high-house-the-joy-of-adventure-is/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [Vampires have always held a very seductive kind of lore and have always been some variety of attractive, whether it's attractiveness that's born of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-farrell/vampires-have-always-held-a-very-seductive-kind-of-lore-and-have/) [Colin Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-farrell/) > [“Not only have people stopped trying to be attractive when they are out among other people, but they are no longer even trying not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/not-only-have-people-stopped-trying-to-be-attractive-when-they-are/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [A lovely nook of forest scenery, or a grand rock, like a beautiful woman, depends for much of its attractiveness upon the attendance sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/a-lovely-nook-of-forest-scenery-or-a-grand-rock-like-a-beautiful/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [Old age is an ordeal, of flesh and mind. Of winding down, of slowing down, of dying cells. It's accepting the loss of physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/old-age-is-an-ordeal-of-flesh-and-mind-of-winding-down-of-slowing/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [The sexual regions constitute a particularly vulnerable spot, and remain so even in man, and the need for their protection which thus exists conflicts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/the-sexual-regions-constitute-a-particularly-vulnerable-spot-and/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [If you know how to value businesses, it's crazy to own 50 stocks or 40 stocks or 30 stocks, probably because there aren't that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/if-you-know-how-to-value-businesses-it-s-crazy-to-own-50-stocks-or-40/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Be the kind of person others admire, can count on, trust, and enjoy spending time with. After you have developed that reputation, people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/be-the-kind-of-person-others-admire-can-count-on-trust-and-enjoy/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [“Individuality: ten. Cautiousness: three. Combativeness: nine." She looked over and gave me a wink. "Well, what did you expect from a pirate's daughter? Hope:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-oppel/individuality-ten-cautiousness-three-combativeness-nine-she-looked/) [Kenneth Oppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-oppel/) > [“We should remember that even Nature's inadvertence has its own charm, its own attractiveness. Take the baking of bread. The loaf splits open here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remember-that-even-nature-s-inadvertence-has-its-own-charm/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [In the Bible there are three distinctive meanings of grace; It means the mercy and active love of God; It means the winsome attractiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-l-allen/in-the-bible-there-are-three-distinctive-meanings-of-grace-it-means/) [Charles L. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-l-allen/) [Browse all 137 Attractiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attractiveness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sexual harassment in the workplace confuses rewards for performance with rewards for attractiveness and sexual availability.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Farrell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confuses-rewards-for-performance/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attractiveness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confuses-rewards-for-performance/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/warren-farrell-1187_attractiveness_sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confu_1084247.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/warren-farrell-1187_attractiveness_sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confu_1084247.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/warren-farrell-1187_attractiveness_sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confu_1084247.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sexual harassment in the workplace confuses rewards for performance with rewards for attractiveness and…” — Warren Farrell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Warren Farrell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sexual harassment in the workplace confuses...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confuses-rewards-for-performance/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confuses-rewards-for-performance/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```