What constitutes sexual harassment? : perceptions of Icelandic employees

Abstract

Although debated for years, there is yet no universally accepted consensus on what constitutes sexual harassment (SH) within the workplace. Prior research has shown that several factors affect individuals‘ perception of SH, such as age, gender, and prior victimization. It is hypothesized that women, older individuals, and those with a history of sexual abuse and SH will perceive contexts to be more descriptive of SH in the workplace. Additionally, the study explored whether other demographic factors influenced perceptions. Snowball sampling via social media was used to recruit participants. The sample consisted of 237 employed individuals between the ages of 18 and 72, with 71.3% women, and 27.8% men. To evaluate perceptions, 19 different contexts were utilized and rated on a 10-point Likert scale. Results showed that physical touch was rated as the most descriptive context of SH, while verbal was rated as the least descriptive. Women, younger people, and those with a history of sexual abuse or SH were more likely to perceive contexts as SH, therefore partially confirming the hypothesis. The findings on perceptions were consistent with previous research on gender, previous sexual abuse, and SH. However, age was found to be inconsistent, as younger individuals rated more SH contexts as descriptive compared to older individuals, which reverses prior research. Furthermore, participants with higher education and increased education on SH perceived the contexts as more descriptive of SH. These results underscore the need for increased education and clearer frameworks to prevent SH in the workplace.