If individuals believe they can enlist the support of an organizational entity, they may be more willing to complain than when they feel like a lone lamb confronting a lion. Programs to make superordinates aware of the possible penalties also address the power dimension.
Traditionally, for women to achieve what they want, they appeal to and acquire some sort of link with individuals with more power and higher status, typically men. Lodging formal harassment complaints may require that they make the private (their sexuality, their emotions) public and challenge the hierarchical arrangements in our society. Various organizations are requiring that workers notify superiors about relationships that have the potential to involve conflicts of interest.