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An unintended consequence? Examining the relationship between visible tattoos and unwanted sexual attention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2019

Michael J. Tews Open the ORCID record for Michael J. Tews [Opens in a new window] ,
Kathryn Stafford  and
Philip M. Jolly
Michael J. Tews*
Affiliation:
School of Hospitality Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802, USA
Kathryn Stafford
Affiliation:
Department of Human Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH43210, USA,
Philip M. Jolly
Affiliation:
School of Hospitality Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Email: mjt17@psu.edu
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Abstract

In the wake of the increasing popularity of tattoos, the present study explored whether tattoos have an adverse impact on employees. Specifically, this research examined the relationship between visible tattoos and unwanted sexual attention, along with perceived sexual harassment climate and perceived inclusion climate as potential moderators of this relationship. With a sample of 417 restaurant and retail employees, the results from logistic regression analyses demonstrated that possessing a visible tattoo was associated with increased odds of experiencing unwanted sexual attention. Perceived inclusion climate attenuated this relationship, whereby individuals with visible tattoos were less likely to experience unwanted sexual attention in a more favorable climate. Although perceived sexual harassment climate was directly related to unwanted sexual attention, it did not moderate the visible tattoo-unwanted sexual attention relationship.

Keywords

tattoosunwanted sexual attentionsexual harassmentorganizational climate
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , March 2020 , pp. 152 - 167
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2019

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