The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Your next sexual harassment training could be in virtual reality

Some say the technology is game-changing. Others worry it could trigger survivors and do little to change bad behavior.

April 19, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
An exhibitor demonstrates an Oculus Quest 2 virtual-reality headset at the NFT LA conference in Los Angeles last month. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg News)
7 min

The man looks real. He inches toward a woman in an office kitchen, then opens his phone to show her pictures of a nude beach. Later, he puts his hand on her thigh. She moves his hand, visibly uncomfortable.

With virtual-reality glasses on, you are the lone witness to the struggle.