Workplace Violence in the United States: Are There Gender Differences?

This paper presents a literature analysis of the research that examines whether there are gender differences in the extent and nature of workplace violence in the United States. Overall, the results from the studies reviewed suggest that gender differences rather than gender similarities characterise workplace violence. Workplace incidents of violence committed against male and female employees were distinguished by (a) trends in the extent of workplace violence, (b) the type of violence, (c) work-related deaths, (d) the type of occupation, (e) job characteristics, (f) the victim-offender relationship, (g) the motives behind the violence, and (h) the impacts of the violence. Security and violence prevention issues and directions for the future are also discussed.