Workplace bullying — passive-aggressive emails, exclusion from key meetings, credit-stealing, persistent undermining — affects women more than men according to surveys, and is significantly underreported. Cultural framing of bullying as 'just personality conflict' allows it to continue.
What constitutes workplace bullying
Repeated behaviour that undermines someone's work, confidence, or position. Persistent over time. Power-imbalanced (manager to report, or by group dynamics).
Where it appears
Female managers more often targeted by male reports and peers (more than research initially suggested). Black and ethnic minority women face compounded patterns. Younger women in male-dominated industries particularly vulnerable.
Documentation matters. HR processes vary widely in effectiveness. Sometimes leaving the role is the better intervention than fighting the culture.