Sexual harassment and menstrual disorders among Italian university women: A cross-sectional observational study

Romito, Patrizia; Cedolin, Carlotta; Bastiani, Federica; Beltramini, Lucia; Saurel‐Cubizolles, Marie‐Josèphe

doi:10.1177/1403494817705559

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The current estimates of sexual harassment are comparable with the review by Fedina et al ,7 who synthesised research in the field from the last 15 years, concluding that although prevalence rates vary, they all indicate that a substantial number of college and university students experience sexual harassment. In line with that review, as well as estimates from European universities,14 15 we also found that unwanted sexual contact and verbal sexual harassment were the most prevalent forms, both being reported by approximately 15% of the students (20%–21% of women and 4%–5% of men). In terms of lifetime rape and rape attempt, this was reported by 3.4% and 2.1%, respectively, whereas the past year prevalences were around 0.4%.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Sexual harassment and assault among university students in Norway: a cross-sectional prevalence study

Sivertsen¹,

Nielsen

Madsen

et al. 2019

BMJ Open

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ObjectiveThe aim of the current study was to provide estimates of both overall and specific forms of sexual harassment among male and female college and university students.Design and settingData stem from a recent national student health survey from 2018 for higher education in Norway (the SHoT study (Students’ Health and Wellbeing Study)).Participants50 054 full-time students (69.1% women) aged 18–35 years participated, yielding a response rate of 31%.Main outcome measureSexual harassment was defined according to Norwegian legal regulations, and was assessed by self-report on seven items covering verbal, non-verbal and physical sexual harassment. We also collected data on the timeframe and frequency of the sexual harassment, in addition to the formal position of the perpetrator of the harassment.ResultsLifetime sexual harassment was reported by 24.2% (women 31.3%, men 8.0%), while 16.7% (women 21.6%, men 5.7%) reported having been sexually harassed within the past year. The most common forms of lifetime (ever having experienced) sexual harassments were ‘sexual expressions, suggestions or comments about your body’ and ‘unwanted touching, hugging or kissing’ (both 15.4%), while rape and rape attempt were reported by 3.4% and 2.1%, respectively. Exposure to all forms of past-year sexual harassments was significantly more common among women and the youngest age cohorts. Fellow students committed the past-year sexual harassment in 18%–29% of the instances, while a university staff member was reported to have committed the harassment in 0.6%–4.6% of cases.ConclusionGiven the potential consequences suffered by those exposed to sexual harassment and assault, both the institutions and student welfare organisations should intensify their efforts to put the theme on the agenda and provide both legal and health services to victims of sexual harassment. The low response rate means that care should be taken in interpreting and generalising the findings to the whole student population.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Sexual harassment and assault among university students in Norway: a cross-sectional prevalence study

Sivertsen¹,

Nielsen

Madsen

et al. 2019

BMJ Open

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“…However, unlike most of the others' study ndings of WSH's consequences in the hospitality workplaces, the reproductive health-related effects other than transactional sex practice and engagement in commercial sex work, menstrual disorders, and acquiring STIs, including HIV/AIDS, were reported in this study. The menstrual disorder issue as an effect of WSH is consistent with a quantitative study nding among female Italian university students [72]. This nding is unique and not well-addressed in WSH literature.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Perception and Experiences of Sexual Harassment among Women Working in Hospitality Workplaces of Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study

Worke

Koricha

Debelew

2020

Preprint

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Background: Workplace sexual harassment is a public health problem that depends on gender, context, and perceivers ideology. Though studies documented the prevalence and consequences worldwide, the perception, experience, risk, and effects on victims are still at an earlier stage and not well understood in low and middle-income countries, particularly Ethiopia. The issue is worsened among women employees in the hospitality workplace that comprises hotels, bars, restaurants, fast-food establishments, and cafeterias. Hence, this study aimed to explore workplace sexual harassment perception and experience among women in these workplaces.Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted from January 1 to August 30, 2019. Data were collected from women employees, managers, cashiers, and customers from several hospitality workplaces in the Bahir Dar City. The data were collected through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key-informant interviews. Women who experienced sexual harassment were selected using the snowball method, and the key informants were recruited purposefully until the data theoretically saturated. Key informants who were supposed to give adequate information to study objectives were selected. The selection process was based on their responsibility concerning women working in hospitality workplaces. Data were analyzed via the thematic analysis approach using the ATLAS ti version 8.4.24 software package. Results: In this study, six focus group discussions, ten in-depth interviews, and thirteen key informant interviews were conducted. The majority of the participants perceived that sexual harassment is pressuring, threatening, touching, abducting for sexual advances; and experienced verbal, physical, and non-verbal forms. Similarly, the perceived risk factors were organization related, customer-related, victim-related; and the consequences were work-related, health-related, finance-related, and family undermining.Conclusions: Workplace sexual harassment in hospitality workplaces was poorly understood but widely experienced by women. It was also caused by multiple factors and affected both organizational and individual-level factors. Awareness creation campaigns, pre-service education, and in-service training, prevention, and rehabilitation are needed. Likewise, organizational policies and strategies should have to be developed and implemented.

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“…However, unlike most of the others' study ndings of the consequences of SH in the hospitality workplaces, the reproductive health-related effects other than transactional sex practice and engagement in commercial sex work, menstrual disorders, and acquiring STIs, including HIV/AIDS, was reported in this study. The issue of the menstrual disorder as an effect of SH is consistent with a quantitative study nding among female Italian university students [74]. This nding is unique and not well addresses in workplace sexual harassment literature.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Perception, Experiences, Risks, and Effects of Sexual Harassment Among Women Working in Hospitality Workplaces of Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study

Worke¹,

Debelew²,

Koricha³

2020

Preprint

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Background: Sexual harassment is a public health problem that depends on gender, context, and perceivers ideology. Though it grasped attention worldwide, the perception, experience, risk, and effects of sexual harassment on victims are still uncertain. Mainly, in hospitality workplaces, women employees are disproportionately victims of sexual harassment. However, the issue is at an early stage in low and middle-income countries and Ethiopia in particular. Thus, this study was aimed to explore the perception, experience, perceived risks, and effects of sexual harassment against women working in the hospitality workplaces.Methods: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study from January 1 to August 30, 2019. Data were collected from women employees, managers, cashiers, and customers. We applied a semi-structured focus group and in-depth interview discussion guides. Women employees were selected using the snowball method, and we recruited the key informants purposefully until the data theoretically saturated. Key informants who were supposed to give adequate information to study objectives were selected. The selection process of the key informants was based on their responsibility concerning women working in hospitality workplaces. Data were analyzed via the thematic analysis approach with the help of ATLAS ti version 8.4.24 software package. Results: Forty-five women, five managers, four cashiers, and four customers were included in the study. Perceptions, experiences, perceived risk factors, and consequences of workplace sexual harassment were identified. The majority of the participants lack awareness about workplace sexual harassment. The experiences were verbal, physical, visual, and gender-related forms of sexual harassment. The perceived risk factors of sexual harassment were organization related, customer-related, and victim-related. The consequences were work-related, health-related, and financial and family undermining.Conclusions: Sexual harassment is poorly understood but widely experienced by women working in hospitality workplaces. It was also caused by multiple factors and affected both organizations and individuals. Awareness creation campaigns, pre-service education, and in-service training, prevention, and rehabilitation of the victims are needed. Likewise, organizational policies and strategies should have to be developed and implemented.

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Sexual harassment and menstrual disorders among Italian university women: A cross-sectional observational study

Abstract: Sexual harassment is related to the prevalence of menstrual disorders. Healthcare providers should encourage dialogue with patients and address the issue of sexual violence or harassment.

Cited by 20 publications

References 25 publications

Sexual harassment and assault among university students in Norway: a cross-sectional prevalence study

Sexual harassment and assault among university students in Norway: a cross-sectional prevalence study

Perception and Experiences of Sexual Harassment among Women Working in Hospitality Workplaces of Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study

Perception, Experiences, Risks, and Effects of Sexual Harassment Among Women Working in Hospitality Workplaces of Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study

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