Men are more likely to victim-blame women in sexual harassment cases, because they are more likely to empathise with a male perpetrator's perspective, according to new research from the universities of Exeter, Bath and Queensland. Men and women are equally empathetic towards female victims in sexual harassment cases, the research found, but men's empathy with male perpetrators can lead them to place higher degrees of blame on female victims. Sharing the full story, not just the headlines Male students were asked to respond to a “clear-cut” example of sexual harassment – and the men who blamed the victim more than women showed greater empathy for the male sexual harasser. The researchers connected this with men feeling sexual harassment cases can threaten their own sense of their gender group's morality. Dr Sarah Jones, who led the research, said: "Men tend not only to be less sympathetic than women, but also feel that it is easier for them to identify as being part of 'the group' when there
Men are more likely to victim-blame women in sexual harassment cases, because they are more likely to empathise with a male perpetrator's perspective, according to new research from the universities of Exeter, Bath and Queensland. Men and women are equally empathetic towards female victims in sexual harassment cases, the research found, but men's empathy with male perpetrators can lead them to place higher degrees of blame on female victims. The researchers connected this with men feeling sexual harassment cases can threaten their own sense of their gender group's morality. Dr Sarah Jones, who led the research, said: "Men tend not only to be less sympathetic than women, but also feel that it is easier for them to identify as being part of 'the group' when there