Transgender identity and experiences of sexual harassment in adolescence

Abstract

Gender-diverse adolescents have reported excessive experiences of sexual harassment, but studies on this are few and suffer from methodological problems. Our aim was to compare experiences of sexual harassment between adolescents belonging to different gender-identity groups. A nationally representative cross-sectional survey of 127,210 adolescents aged 14-20 in Finland in 2017 was used. The respondents were pupils in the eighth and ninth grades of the compulsory nine-year comprehensive school with mean (sd) age of 14.83 (0.82) years and students in upper secondary school (age: mean (sd) 16.84 (0.83) years) and vocational school (17.29 (2.43) years). Cisgender, opposite sex-identifying and non-binary adolescents were compared. Selfreports of experiences of sexual harassment, emotional symptoms and externalising behaviours (bullying perpetration, frequent alcohol use, truancy, drug use) were elicited. The data were analysed using cross-tabulations and logistic regression. When confounders were controlled for, odds ratios were increased for gender harassment (OR 2.0), unwelcome sexual attention (OR 1.7) and sexual coercion (OR 2.0) among adolescents with non-binary gender identity, and for gender harassment (OR 2.1) among those identifying with the opposite sex. Subjection to sexual harassment is particularly associated with non-binary gender identity. This may reflect that others use sexual harassment as a form of control of gender-nonconforming self-expression.

Aspects of Gender and Sexuality in Relation to Experiences of Subjection to Sexual Harassment among Adolescents in General Population

“…Experiences of sexual harassment were reported more commonly by females, by those active in romantic and erotic encounters, and by sexual and gender minority youth. Earlier research has noted the associations between experiences of subjection to sexual harassment and sex [ 1 , 3 ], sexual activity [ 2 , 5 , 6 ], and sexual or gender minority status [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]. The novel contribution of the present study is that, as far as I know, the associations between these sex, gender and sexuality-related variables and experiences of sexual harassment were all explored here for the first time concurrently, which makes it possible to ascertain if they all have independent associations when the others are also accounted for.…”

“…The concepts of heteronormativity and heterosexism extend the understanding of inequality between sexes to inequality between sexualities and gender expressions. Self-expression not conforming to binary sex roles may trigger aggression that serves to maintain heteronormativity [ 8 , 50 ]. In the present study, experiences of subjection to sexual harassment had the strongest associations with non-binary/other gender identity, which is likely accompanied by the most marked challenge to gender-conforming self-expression.…”

“…Subjection to sexual harassment is reportedly more common among girls than among boys [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ], among sexually active adolescents than among those not yet engaging in romantic and erotic encounters [ 2 , 5 , 6 ], and among sexual and gender minorities than among mainstream youth [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]. The associations of these aspects of sex, gender and sexuality with experiences of sexual harassment have been researched in separate studies.…”

“…Even in the face of increasing equality between sexes and the improved status of sexual and gender minorities, heterosexism remains widespread [ 35 , 36 ]. Thus, in addition to females at large [ 1 , 3 ], adolescents not conforming to gender roles, including self-expression and sexual behaviour, are more likely to suffer from sexual harassment than their heterosexual gender-conforming peers [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]. Effeminate (i.e., in males, behaviour considered typical of a female) self-expression among boys is less readily tolerated than is masculine (qualities or appearance traditionally associated with men) self-expression among girls [ 39 ], perhaps running decidedly contrary to the heteronormative ideal.…”

“…Taken overall, experiences of subjection to sexual harassment are reportedly more common among girls [ 1 , 4 ], among sexually active adolescents [ 6 ], and among sexual minority and gender minority youth [ 4 , 7 , 8 ], but to the best of my knowledge, no studies have evaluated the associations between these variables and experiences of sexual harassment simultaneously in one and the same model. As aspects of sex, gender and sexuality are decidedly intertwined during adolescence, they need to be studied simultaneously to distinguish between main and confounding effects, that is, to explore if they are all independently associated with experiences of sexual harassment or if some of them level out others when studied at the same time.…”