What Game Theory Tells Us About Sexual Harassment

Forgive me, Economists.  I’m going to boil this down so that the rest of us humans can understand it.

Basically what Game Theory assumes is that when a Person is contemplating a course of action, s/he will weigh the possible outcomes and choose her/his course of action accordingly.  So that when a Man is considering whether to back a woman into a closet, he’s considering his chances – will she Play Along or will she Refuse.  And if she Refuses?  Will she Report Him or Not Report Him. 

Of course Game Theory also applies to the Woman.  If she Reports Him, she has to consider what will happen.  And here’s where Game Theory shows us the root of the problem.  We know that if she Reports Him, chances are that nothing will happen and that in fact it will rebound on her – she may lose her job, her reputation and her ability to get another job.  Given these consequences, women are more likely to Not Report Him and Men know this.  They know that the game is rigged in their favor and as a result, they are more likely to harass than not.  The same reasoning applies to assault.  While there are more “bad outcomes” for the Man to consider, the likelihood that a report of assault will result in a charge let alone a conviction is slim.

Now most men have no interest in forcing themselves on women.  They like and respect women or they are at least obeying moral or ethical or religious strictures that forbid these nasty habits.   But the men who are interested in sliding a hand up a job applicant’s skirt or slipping something in a woman’s beer at a college mixer know that most likely they will get away with it.

So what is Game Theory telling us to do?  If we want to change the status quo, we need to ratchet up the consequences when Men behave badly.  And we have to stop punishing women for Reporting.  

On a “macro” level – sorry, Economists - this means we have to make sure the reporting process is fair and accessible and we have to provide support for women who come forward.  We have to enforce the laws and regulations that exist and strengthen them.  And we have to make it seriously UnCool to harass by calling these Assholes out.  And being very noisy about it.  Word is that certain Hollywood types are double-checking their actions now that they’ve seen what’s happened to Harvey and Les and R. Kelly.  So noise is helping.

What can you do?  Down here on the “micro” level, you can make sure that the policies at your place of business, house of worship, schools, and athletic and social clubs are clear and that there is a process in place that supports women who wish to come forward.  Get Noisy when you see a problem.  Check out and share this month’s links to the Gillette ad - it urges men to Call out Bad Behavior – and the article about Game Theory.  Walk a Woman to her car and make sure she gets home safely.  And, of course, support About That Night, a noisy little film that’s hoping to open up awareness about sexual assault on college campuses.