Sex and the Office

The difficulties facing women in high-level jobs are not always borne of malice—often they result from run-of-the-mill discomfort and anxiety, says scholar and journalist Elsesser. She should know; she went to MIT when the graduate student body there was more than 80% male and worked at the Morgan Stanley trading floor when female traders were few and far between. The changing boundaries and rules regarding acceptable behavior both in the workplace and at work-related social events, she argues, can have a detrimental effect on workplace relationships—and, consequently, on women's careers. Both men and women struggle with distinguishing between friendliness and sexual harassment, and with handling compliments to coworkers, outings on business trips, and networking—not to mention workplace romances. How to overcome those barriers, which keep men and women fearful of and apart from each other in the workplace? Elsesser adeptly provides both philosophical and granular help to managers, leaders, and anyone else looking to navigate the tricky gender partitions which exist in the workplace. A helpful, thoughtful, compassionate guide.
— Publishers Weekly


This book represents the best of what smart social scientists do. Elsesser identifies a real problem that has serious consequences for women’s well-being and advancement at work. What is especially clever about Elsesser’s take is that, unlike other recent books, she doesn’t blame men or women. Instead, she focuses on how the modern workplace and heightened awareness of sexual harassment issues have created an unfortunate barrier between men and women.
— Matt Lieberman PhD, professor of psychology, psychiatry, and biobehavioral sciences, UCLA; author of Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect


The author bravely looks into the unintended consequences of sexual harassment policies that have negatively affected the ability of male and female coworkers to maintain close friendships and hence better working relationships.
— Dr. Pepper Schwartz, professor of sociology, University of Washington; author of The Normal Bar


In Sex and the Office, Kim Elsesser makes a compelling case for the reason we still lack gender equality in the workplace—and it’s not what you’d think. Written in an engaging, accessible, and snappy style, it will make you think differently about your interactions in the office from page one. An essential read for those interested in the dynamics of the modern workplace.
— Heidi Reeder PhD, author of Commit to Win: How to Harness the Four Elements of Commitment to Reach Your Goals; director of the Leadership and Human Relations Program, Boise State University