Opportunity Youth and Sex-based Harassment in the Workplace: A Scan of Research and Resources

Overview

Opportunity youth, or young people ages 16 to 24 who are not currently connected to school or work, tend to work in sectors and environments that put them at a greater risk of sex-based harassment/victimization.

^{Sex-based harassment is a form of sexual discrimination—or unfavorable treatment based on an employee’s sex—and it is illegal and unacceptable. It is a complex problem that can take multiple forms and may not be recognized or reported by workers. It is also extremely common; each year, sex-based harassment is formally reported more than 10,000 times, and it is likely that many more workers experience it but do not report it.1,2}

Youth-supporting professionals are critical resources to the young people they serve, but when it comes to workplace sex-based harassment, they may feel limited in the degree to which they can intervene. While it is true that youth-supporting professionals may not be able to fully prevent harassment from occurring, they can tailor services and supports to help protect youth—and to help youth protect themselves—by recognizing harassing behaviors and navigating how to address harassment if it does take place. 

Understanding sex-based harassment is an important tool for youth-supporting professionals and can empower opportunity youth as they navigate the workplace. This resource describes how youth-supporting professionals can aid youth by:

• Becoming familiar with the topic of sex-based harassment
• Recognizing elements of employer and workplace cultures that enable or prevent harassment
• Monitoring youths’ experiences
• Being sources of stability and support

Suggested citation: Beckwith, S., Schlecht, C., Rust, K., Woods, N., Lantos, H., & DeCoursey, J. Opportunity youth and sex-based harassment in the workplace: A scan of research and resources. Child Trends. https://activatecenter.org/resource/opportunity-youth-and-sex-based-harassment-in-the-workplace-a-scan-of-research-and-resources

This page was last updated in December 2025.