78% of women and 60% of men say sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious issueThe latest outpouring of news stories about sexual harassment in the workplace reflects a common experience for many Americans women. In the latest Economist/YouGov Poll, 60% of women report having been sexually harassed by a man. A third of those women report the harassment occurred in the last five years. For most women, sexual harassment is serious and not unusual – and the problem isn’t getting better.

The recognition that harassment occurs is widespread. When women are asked what percentage of women they believe would say they have been harassed, the average response is 70%. Men are less likely to see the problem as that widespread: their average response is about 50%.

Still, most people, male and female, say sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious problem. But for women it is a greater concern: 78% of women say sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious problem today, and 33% of women say it is a very serious problem). 60% of men agree it is a serious issue, with 21% calling it very serious.