Sexual Assault in the Workplace: Why Silence Still Wins and How We Can Change That
In recent years, sexual assault reports have dropped, but that doesn’t mean things are getting better. It actually means fewer people feel safe speaking up. A lot of times, the person who assaulted them is someone in power—like a boss, supervisor, or higher-up. This essay argues that workplace sexual assaults destroy employees’ mental health and job performance, while silence keeps abuse hidden and allows it to happen again. Both civilian and military workplaces show how fear and lack of protection leave survivors trapped in pain that never really goes away.
People think the decline in reports means sexual assault is less common, but it’s the opposite. The silence is what’s growing. Survivors stay quiet out of fear—fear of losing their job, being blamed, or being seen as a problem. In healthcare, this fear is even worse because of how much power hospital administrators have. “Sexual Assaults in Scrubs” explains how some hospitals threaten or transfer workers who try to report harassment. Others cover it up to protect their image. When your abuser has authority over you, you feel powerless. So the fewer reports we see don’t mean there are fewer assaults—it means people don’t feel safe coming forward.
The damage doesn’t stop there. Sexual assault has real, long-lasting mental health effects. Many survivors develop PTSD, depression, or anxiety. The National Institute of Mental Health says about 22% of adults ages 18–29 experience anxiety, and sexual violence plays a big role in that. The trauma sticks with people—it affects their sleep, focus, and relationships at work. According to Vital Record, Texas A&M Health, about 50% of sexual assault survivors develop PTSD. That shows sexual assault isn’t just one bad moment—it changes lives for years.
The military is one of the clearest examples of this silence. Many soldiers never report what happens to them because of fear or the toxic culture that blames victims. “PTSD from Sexual Assaults in the Military” talks about how both men and women are told to stay quiet. One former soldier said his abuse started when he was only 18, and even after reporting it, his case was ignored. That’s proof that big institutions still fail to protect the people who serve them.
Some people argue that not everyone who experiences sexual assault ends up with lasting trauma. They say some people recover faster or move on. That can be true, but it doesn’t erase the bigger issue—silence helps no one. Every time an assault goes unreported, that same person can hurt someone else. The longer we stay quiet, the more power abusers get.
This happens in hospitals, the military, and many other places. There are stories of repeat offenders who kept their jobs because survivors were too scared to report them. Later, those same people hurt others. Some survivors say they wish they had spoken up—not for revenge, but to protect someone else. That’s what silence does it protects abusers and creates a cycle where assault becomes part of workplace culture.
Speaking up is hard, but it’s how things start to change. Every report adds proof that this problem isn’t rare it’s everywhere. Because of survivors raising their voices, new laws and policies have been made. Ms. Magazine explains how the new military funding bill added better protections for sexual assault prevention, parental leave, and childcare. These kinds of changes only happen when people refuse to stay silent.
But policies alone aren’t enough if no one enforces them. We need stronger laws that protect people who report sexual assault in any job, not just the military. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center says awareness programs mean nothing if there’s no accountability. Abusers shouldn’t be protected by their titles or rank.
Sexual assault isn’t just a women’s issue—it’s a human issue. It affects people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. Everyone deserves to feel safe where they work. When survivors speak up, it gets harder for workplaces to hide what’s really happening.
The drop in reports isn’t something to celebrate—it’s a warning sign that fear is winning. When employees don’t feel safe reporting, trauma spreads, and workplaces lose good people. Survivors shouldn’t have to choose between their mental health and their job. By encouraging reporting, enforcing stricter laws, and holding people accountable, we can finally start breaking the silence. Every report matters. Every survivor’s story matters. Silence protects abusers—but speaking up protects everyone.
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