Sexual Harassment at Institutions of Higher Education: Prevalence, Risk, and Extent

Abstract

Sexual harassment is a pervasive problem on college campuses. Across eight academic campuses, 16,754 students participated in an online study that included questions about sexual harassment victimization by a faculty/staff member or by a peer since enrollment at their Institution of Higher Education (IHE). Utilizing an intersectional theory and hurdle models, this study explored the effects of gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, age at enrollment, student status, and time spent at institution on students' risk for peer- and faculty/staff-perpetrated sexual harassment victimization, as well as the extent of victimization for students who experience harassment. Across institutions, 19% of students reported experiencing faculty/staff-perpetrated sexual harassment and 30% reported experiencing peer-perpetrated sexual harassment. Hypotheses related to intersectional impacts were partially supported, with most significant findings in main effects. Time at institution was found to increase both risk and extent of victimization of both types of harassment. Traditional undergraduate students, non-Latinx White students, female students, and gender and sexual minority students were found to be at increased risk for harassment. Being female increases the odds of experiencing both faculty/staff and peer sexual harassment by 86% and 147%, respectively. Latinx students and students with an ethnicity other than White reported less victimization, but those who reported sexual harassment faced greater extent of harassing behaviors. A discussion of these findings for institutional program planning and policy is explored.

Prevalence of intimidation, harassment, and discrimination in resident physicians: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Although the general findings of our study are consistent with IHD literature, 14,18,[22][23][24] IHD prevalence appears to be higher among residents than staff physicians. However, among staff physicians, IHD prevalence is highly variable.…”

“…For example, nearly 30% of college students have previously reported sexual harassment during their education. 22 This finding lends support to the trans-institutional nature of academic IHD. [92][93][94][95]…”

“…16 Similarly, a number of cultural factors within medicine that discourage reporting of IHD and encourage victimization have contributed to the e99 phenomenon of "whistleblowing" within medicine. 14,[17][18][19][20][21] In response to mounting criticism, 14,18,[22][23][24] multiple professional organizations, including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Canadian Medical Association, Resident Doctors of Canada, the American Medical Association, and the World Medical Association, have published position papers denouncing IHD in medicine. 13,[25][26][27][28][29] Several Canadian medical schools, including Queen's University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the University of Manitoba, have developed IHD policy statements and imposed IHD reporting protocols.…”

“…34,35 While these estimates may also reflect decreased barriers to reporting, particularly as many surveys are kept anonymous, the effectiveness of anti-IHD infrastructure is unclear. 14,18,[22][23][24] Previous reviews have described IHD across different Canadian medical education settings. In 2014, Karim and Ducherer reported that between 45% and 93% of residents reported at least one instance of IHD during residency.…”

Ser mujer y estudiar leyes: aproximaciones antropológicas al acoso y su resistencia en una universidad pública de la Ciudad de México, México

“…Otros estudios sugieren que el acoso sexual puede ser ejercido para controlar la forma de vestir 17 , tanto de estudiantes como de profesoras, lo que afecta notablemente la salud mental 18 de las personas afectadas. En algunos contextos este modelo de control tiene que ver con mujeres responsables del hostigamiento sexual 19 o bien estas asumen roles de encubrimiento 20 que favorecen la naturalización social de esta violencia.…”