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60 Percent of Women in Tech Face Sexual Harassment: Survey

Despite the diversity initiatives of many Silicon Valley tech firms, sexual harassment is still alive and well.
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Despite the diversity initiatives of many Silicon Valley tech firms, sexual harassment is still alive and well, according to a new report.

It found that 60 percent of women in the tech industry had faced "unwanted sexual advances." Sixty-five percent of those advances were from a superior, according to a survey of more than 200 women in the tech industry.

The report, titled "Elephant in the Valley," was first reported on by Re/code. It was authored by market research consultant Michele Madansky and Trae Vassallo, a former partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the venture capital firm sued for gender discrimination by Ellen Pao.

"I was propositioned by a hiring manager early in my career when I was a job candidate," wrote one poll respondent. "He clearly indicated that if I slept with him, he would make sure I was promoted as his 'second in command' as he moved up the ladder in the company."

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Another woman complained of being "groped by my boss while in public at a company event." When she reported the incident to HR, she "was retaliated against and had to leave the company."

The report also found that 84 percent of women were told they were "too aggressive," and 66 percent said they felt left out of networking events because they were women.