Harassment Topic of Debate Around Capital : Workplace: In Washington, D.C., offices, men generally agree that the issue is a serious one. Women hope male co-workers will become more sensitive to their feelings.

As the Senate prepared to air sexual harassment allegations against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas on nationwide television today, more private debates on the issue were taking place across this city.

In a series of random interviews with office workers in the nation’s capital, men generally acknowledged that sexual harassment was a serious issue but most said they were certain that it did not happen where they work.

Many also questioned whether women and the media had blown the Thomas case out of proportion.

Women, however, generally said that they hope their male co-workers will become more sensitive to their feelings on the issue.

Said Marjorie Auer, a staff attorney with the Department of Veterans Affairs: “I think it’s caused some of them (men) to think about whether they’ve done something that could be interpreted (as sexual harassment).”

She said that she and her co-workers, both male and female, agreed that one of the problems with sexual harassment is how to define it. Some women might interpret a comment as harassment, while others might not, she said.

At the Department of Veterans Affairs, investigator Bruce Gentile said that he believes discussions about sexual harassment in the last few days have made men more aware of women’s feelings.

However, he said: “I just don’t know if we’re going overboard with all this or not.”

Mary Stuart, a Senate Democratic staff member, said that sexual harassment has not only been the leading topic of conversation among Senate staffers, but that it also has been the subject of some light-hearted jokes.

“When there’s a girl walking by in a short skirt, a guy will say, ‘Hey, stop sexually harassing me,’ ” she said.

But Stuart said she considers herself fortunate to work in an office where most men are considerate of women’s feelings.

Patrick McGroarty, an attorney with the Internal Revenue Service, said that the sexual harassment charges against Thomas have been discussed only briefly among his co-workers, most of whom are men.

“(Sexual harassment) is just not prevalent,” he said. “Although I’m sure it does happen.”