Sexual and Gender-based Misconduct at American Statistical Association Events This report summarizes findings from the American Statistical Association’s 2018 study of member experiences of sexual- and gender-based misconduct at ASA events. Among women, 33 percent reported at least one incident of sexually inappropriate behavior or gender-based discrimination at one or more ASA events. Many reported repeat occurrences, including in the recent past. Most common was gender-based disrespect or condescension, followed by different treatment (e.g., in the quality or nature of assignments) based on sex or gender. At the most severe, seven individuals reported rape, sexual assault, attempted rape or attempted sexual assault at an ASA event. Qualitative comments underscore feelings of being demeaned personally and disrespected professionally, with consequent emotions including frustration, anger, resentment and self-doubt. Table of Contents Study Summary ............................................................................................................................. 2 Perceptions and Warnings ........................................................................................................... 2 Prevalence of Experiences ............................................................................................................ 3 Frequency and Recency of Experiences ...................................................................................... 5 Nature and Impact of the Most Disturbing Incident ................................................................. 6 Results Among Groups ................................................................................................................. 7 Personal Comments ...................................................................................................................... 8 Incidents Unrelated to the ASA ................................................................................................. 12 ASA Standards and Attitudes Toward the Association .......................................................... 14 Policy Recommendations............................................................................................................ 14 Appendix A: Sample Distributions............................................................................................ 18 Appendix B: Personal Statements ............................................................................................. 19 Appendix C: Policy Suggestions ................................................................................................ 44 Appendix D: Additional Comments ........................................................................................ 125 Appendix E: Topline Results ................................................................................................... 149 Appendix F: Research Review on Work-Related Sexual Misconduct ................................. 163 Study Summary The study questionnaire was developed after discussion of research objectives and a review of previous studies. Drafts were refined in further discussion with ASA representatives, evaluation by an ASA-appointed academic expert and further review and comment by the ASA Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Assault. The restricted-access online questionnaire was open for participation by ASA members from Oct. 11-28, 2018. All members listed in the Association’s then-current membership database received an introductory email from ASA Executive Director Ronald Wasserstein on Oct. 10, an initial invitation from Langer Research Associates on Oct. 11 and reminder invitations on Oct. 17, 22 and 25. All members were encouraged to participate, whether or not they had experienced sexual- or gender-based misconduct. Out of 15,769 listed members, 3,507 participated in the survey, a 22 percent participation rate. This includes 316 who started but did not complete the questionnaire; their answers were retained. Median time to complete the survey was 7.2 minutes, including 11.3 minutes for those who had experienced sexual harassment or gender-based misconduct at an ASA event (and therefore were asked more questions), 6.9 minutes for those who had attended an ASA event but did not report such experiences and 5.6 minutes for those who had not attended an ASA event. The demographic composition of the participant population resembles available demographic data on the full membership. The largest differences reflect fewer Asians and fewer student members among study participants than in the full population, and more whites and regular members. (See Appendix A.) The data were not weighted. We cannot ascertain whether the experiences of those who participated in the study are different from those who chose not to participate. As such we recommend that the results be regarded as indicative, but not reliably representative, of the full ASA membership. Perceptions and Warnings • Given what they have heard or experienced, 15 percent of study participants regard sexual harassment at ASA events to be a problem or a major problem. Women and men say so about equally. • Nineteen percent of study participants – 23 percent of women and 15 percent of men – consider other inappropriate gender-based behavior to be a problem or a major problem at ASA events. Such behavior may include gender-based disrespect, condescension or objectification. • Thirteen percent of women (and 2 percent of men) have been warned by friends or colleagues to be on guard against sexually inappropriate behavior by a fellow attendee at an ASA event. 2 • Four percent of women (and 1 percent of men) have been warned to avoid specific ASA events because individuals who engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior might be in attendance. Prevalence of Experiences Eighty-five percent of study participants reported having attended one or more ASA events (defined as any meeting sponsored or co-sponsored by the association or its chapters or sections, as well as social gatherings related to such meetings). Among them: • Fourteen percent of women said they experienced sexual harassment (3 percent) or inappropriate behavior that may or may not have constituted sexual harassment (11 percent) at an ASA event. The figure is 1 percent among men. • Such experiences are more prevalent outside of ASA events. In workplace, graduate program or career-related venues or meetings unrelated to the ASA, 58 percent of women said they have experienced sexual harassment (31 percent) or inappropriate behavior that may or may not have constituted sexual harassment (27 percent), as have 14 percent of men. • At an ASA event, 13 percent of women (and 5 percent of men) witnessed a sexually oriented conversation that they found to be inappropriate. • Two percent of women said they experienced sexual harassment after an ASA event by someone they met at an ASA event. The study asked participants whether they experienced any of 13 specific incidents of sexually inappropriate behavior or gender-based discrimination at an ASA event, regardless of whether or not they considered it sexual harassment. (Question items were mostly drawn from surveys by the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board.) Among the results: • Thirty-three percent of women reported having experienced at least one incident of sexually inappropriate behavior or gender-based discrimination at one or more ASA events. • At the most serious, seven individuals reported having experienced rape, sexual assault, or attempted rape or sexual assault, while attending an ASA event. (More, 4 percent of women, or 44 individuals, reported this occurring in other professional or academic venues unrelated to the ASA.) • Most common at an ASA event was “disrespect or condescension that you experienced as based on your sex/gender,” reported by 25 percent of women (and 1 percent of men). 3 • Eighteen percent of women (compared with 2 percent of men) have experienced “different treatment based on sex/gender (e.g., quality or nature of assignments)” at an ASA event. • Also at ASA events, 10 percent of women have experienced each of the following: “unwelcome sexual teasing, jokes, comments or questions”; “unwelcome invasion of personal space that you experienced as sexual in nature (e.g., touching, crowding, leaning over)”; and “use of derogatory or unprofessional terms related to your sex/gender.” An additional 9 percent have experienced “unwelcome sexually suggestive looks or gestures.” One or 2 percent of men have experienced any of these. • Other incidents at ASA events are less prevalent, experienced by 2 percent of women or fewer. While small in percentage terms, these include the following: o 24 women (and three men) have experienced “pressure for dates”; o 16 women (and four men), “unwelcome communications of a sexual nature (e.g., emails, phone calls, notes, text messages)”; o 16 women (and three men), “stalking (e.g., unwanted physical or electronic intrusion into your personal life)”; o Nine women (and two men), pressure for sexual favors; o As noted, seven individuals, rape or sexual assault or attempted rape or sexual assault; and o Two women (and two men), offers of preferential treatment for sexual favors. Table 1. Ordered by prevalence. Experiences at ASA Events Women Men All Disrespect or condescension that you experienced as based 25% 1 11 on your sex/gender Different treatment based on sex/gender (e.g., quality or 18 2 9 nature of assignments) Witnessing a sexually orientated conversation that you 13 5