Cyber Sexual Harassment Research Articles

Behind the screen: The perception–reality gap in cybersexual harassment between remote coworkers

This study examines the perception–reality gap regarding the influence of technological affordances on cybersexual harassment (CSH) between remote workers. While previous research has recognized the existence of gender stereotypes and discrimination in online spaces, little attention has been given to how technological affordances impact—or are perceived to impact—incidents of CSH. By employing a theoretical framework of technological affordances, this study reveals that users often perceive affordances differently from how they utilize them, indicating a misalignment between perception and behavior. Our analysis of interviews with 30 remote knowledge workers extends affordances theory by showing that affordances are not always applied in the ways they are perceived, and that power dynamics and structural inequalities outweigh technological affordances in shaping reporting behaviors. Addressing this perception–reality gap is crucial for developing interventions and policies that accurately reflect the realities of CSH experiences and promote a safe online work environment.

A Review of the Characteristics of Cyberbullying and Cyber Sexual Harassment and the Challenges for Implementing Legal Strategies for their Prevention

A Review of the Characteristics of Cyberbullying and Cyber Sexual Harassment and the Challenges for Implementing Legal Strategies for their Prevention

Do Cybervictimizations Predict Suicide-Related Behaviors in Adolescents? Mediating Role of the “Escaping” Coping Strategy

The high prevalence of suicide-related behaviors (SRB) among adolescents is a concerning issue that calls for the identification of explanatory and mediating factors involved. This study examines, by gender: (1) the percentage of adolescents reporting SRB, cyberbullying, and cybersexual harassment; (2) the association between cyberbullying and cybersexual harassment with SRB; (3) the predictive power of cybervictimization in SRB; and (4) the mediating role of Escaping coping strategy between cybervictimization and SRB. One thousand and twenty-seven adolescents (62.5% girls) aged 13 to 18 years ( M = 15.59, SD = 1.28) participated in the study and completed the Youth Self Report (for SRB), Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (for cybervictimization), and Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences, Spanish (for coping). About 16% of respondents (19% of girls and 8.9% of boys) reported SRB, about 18% reported Cyberbullying (20.8% of girls and 13.0% of boys), and near 23% reported Cybersexual harassment (28.7% of girls and 12.5% of boys). There is a significant association between cybervictimization and SRB, with the presence of cybervictimization increasing the likelihood of SRB by three to four times (especially in boys), and significantly predicting SRB. Escaping coping strategy partially mediates the relationship between cybervictimization and SRB only in girls. The findings that cybervictimization predicts SRB and that Escaping coping mediates this relationship provide insights for the implementation of prevention and intervention policies.

Investigating the Psychological Impact of Cyber-Sexual Harassment.

The impact of cyber sexual harassment (CSH) on adult women and the factors influencing this impact are largely under-researched. Communication technologies provide novel means for people to threaten, communicate, and harass others. Victims of in-person sexual harassment (ISH) can experience negative symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, and negative body image. The current study explored the psychological impact of CSH in adult women to determine whether CSH predicts psychological difficulties. Adult female participants (N = 136) took part in an online, cross-sectional study; 44% of participants had experienced CSH and this was associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, trauma, and body image dissatisfaction. Younger victims, those who had been in a relationship for a shorter amount of time, those who had previously experienced of ISH, and those who had a higher number of social media followers were more likely to have experienced CSH. When controlling for demographic variables, CSH predicted anxiety, depression, trauma, and body image dissatisfaction; however, experience of ISH impacted upon body-image dissatisfaction over and above CSH. There is a need to routinely ask individuals accessing mental health services whether online interactions cause harm. Future research should examine these phenomena in more ethnically diverse samples.

Sexual Harassment in Female Students at Tribhuvan University: A Narrative Inquiry Research

Background: Higher education establishments in Nepal also disclose information on sexual harassment incidents. Sexual harassment is a detrimental encroachment onto the educational domain that extends beyond scholarly discussions. It is an undesirable, offensive, and frequently menacing behaviour that jeopardises a student's well-being. Objectives: This study examines the experiences of female students at Tribhuvan University regarding sexual harassment in the classroom. It aims to assess the prevalence of sexual harassment and identify its various forms among female students. Methods: Adopting a qualitative narrative inquiry research design, we included teachers and students from the Central Department of Education, with information collected from selected female students until data saturation was reached. In-depth interviews were used as the primary data collection method, and both primary and secondary sources were qualitatively and descriptively analysed. Results: The findings reveal a disturbing reality where female students at Tribhuvan University faced sexual harassment from their classmates, teachers, and university staff. The study identifies three primary forms of sexual harassment: verbal, physical, and cyber sexual harassment. Cybersexual harassment emerges as the most prevalent form, significantly impacting the physical and mental well-being of the affected students. Conclusion: Sexual harassment occurs in Nepalese higher education institutions, although it is less common among female students who are able to voice their concerns in an articulate and natural way. Those who feel intimidated struggle to voice their opinions or live in fear of facing a higher risk. The detrimental effect of this type of sexual harassment on the personality development of female students is emphasised. Keywords: Girl student, Sexual harassment, Tribhuvan University, Forms of sexual harassment

'From workspace to virtual space': the impact of cyber sexual harassment on women workers' well-being.

'From workspace to virtual space': the impact of cyber sexual harassment on women workers' well-being.

Cyber sexual harassment against women and impact on health. A cross-sectional study in a representative population sample.

This study focuses on the frequency of cyber sexual harassment (CSH) and examines its link with five health impact indicators (self-perceived health, medication, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and use of health services). Analyzing the data provided by the 2019 Macro-survey on violence against women in Spain, two items of which refer to CSH. It was conducted in Spain on a representative sample of 9568 women aged over 16years old. A total of 9.15% of the women surveyed had experienced CSH at some point in their lives. Being under 25years old, having higher education, not being in a relationship, having no religious beliefs and having a certified disability are sociodemographic characteristics associated with a higher risk of CSH. Women who have experienced other forms of gender-based violence also show an increased risk. Female victims of CSH reported higher rates of suicidal ideation (20% versus 9.79% in non-victims of CSH) and suicidal attempts (7.20% versus 1.74% in non-victims of CSH). These findings have significant implications for the design of preventive health polices, which should incorporate strategies to address CSH as part of the continuum of multiple interrelated forms of gender violence that affect women and girls throughout their lives.

Netnographic Study of Online Gender-Based Violence (KBGO) on Twitter

This study aims to determine online gender-based violence in the form of online sexual harassment (Cyber Sexual Harassment) that occurs on Twitter. This research uses CMC (Computer-Mediated Communication) theory, and the type of research used is qualitative research using ethnographic methods. The results of this study show that there are six categories of cyber sexual harassment, the first is a direct threat of sexual or physical violence which is any effort, either physical or verbal that leads to a person's sexuality or sexual organs without obtaining consent and has elements or threats. Second, online harassment is an act of sexual harassment through unwanted messages, attention, and contact or intended to embarrass the victim. Third, abusive comments are negative words and without censorship can even be read or may be shared by others.

Adolescent Responses to the Social Campaign Video on Kemdikbud.RI Account about Cyber-sexual Harassment

The primary purpose of a social campaign is to change a person's behavior or attitude regarding some social issues under the message conveyed by the communicator. It is described as persuasive communication. Furthermore, this study aimed to analyze the video content of the #GerakBersama social campaign from the cerdasberkarakter.kemdikbud.ri account about cyber sexual harassment and the audience's responses to the campaign related to awareness of this new phenomenon on social media. This study used mixed methods with data collection through in-depth interviews and surveys to obtain a thorough understanding from audiences and advertising experts regarding video advertising messages. The authors used Aristotle's theory of persuasion communication with three main pillars, namely ethos, pathos, logos, and the AISAS communication model to analyze the responses of the campaign video. These theories were processed and modified to obtain conclusions about the target audience's response to social advertisement videos regarding cyber-sexual harassment and to identify persuasive communication strategies in social campaigns as a reference for advertising professionals and academics in responding to new social problems in online media. The study results were also expected to reference further communication strategies and understanding related to persuasive communication in advertising and social campaigns.

A Space of One’s Own? The Tensions of Being Visible on Instagram for Turkish Female Athletes

In this study, we seek to understand how Turkish female athletes who are active on Instagram experience cyber violence, the cultural context of that violence, and the ways in which athletes negotiate and struggle with violence via a critical feminist approach. We analyze data obtained via individual, in-depth interviews with 15 athletes using the thematic analysis method. The findings show that active use of Instagram brings with it experiences of cyber sexual harassment and online and offline stalking. Turkey’s neo-conservative, religious, and patriarchal gender regime does not allow the interviewees to post freely on Instagram. Findings also reveal the presence of digital emotional labor, which is an important part of the athletic labor of femininity, in the struggle of participants to use Instagram as their own safe and free space. Consequently, although the participants have a fear of being exposed to violence in the real world due to their cyber violence experiences, or even fear death from time to time due to their Instagram posts, they nevertheless strive to use this space freely and break the control over their bodies.

Cyber Sexual Harassment among Adolescent Girls: A Qualitative Analysis

Background: Research efforts are increasingly recognizing young girls’ experiences of technology facilitated sexual harassment, which includes sexual harassment via electronic technology and social networking sites. The current study aimed to qualitatively describe experiences of cyber sexual harassment (CSH), as well as its effects, among a sample of sexually active adolescent girls. Methods: Qualitative interviews (n = 25) were conducted among a sub-group of adolescent girls at risk for CSH (those who reported experiencing sexual or dating violence) who participated in a larger cross-sectional clinic-based study on sexual health. Participants were asked to describe their experiences or peers’ experiences of CSH. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and a thematic analysis approach was used to analyze qualitative findings. Results: Participants reported experiencing several different types of CSH, including (a) being forced or pressured to send sexual photos, (b) receiving unwanted sexual messages/photos, and (c) having sexual photos posted or shared without the sender’s permission. Findings also highlighted the consequences of experiencing CSH, including social isolation and negative effects on girls’ education. Conclusions: These scenarios of CSH described by participants highlight the multiple ways in which girls experience CSH. Our findings begin to inform the development of quantitative survey measures that reflect these specific types of CSH experiences reported by adolescents. The consistent use of such measures will be critical to establish the prevalence and consequences of CSH in future studies on this topic.

Transformation of Catur Guru Educated in Preventing Cases of Cyber Sexual Harassment Among Adolescents in Bali Province

Among the problems of teenagers in today's digital technology era is sexual violence through social media which is more targeted at youth groups. This research report discusses: (1) What are the forms of sexual violence through social media that kill teenagers? (2) How is the transformation of the Catur Guru teaching in preventing sexual violence against teenagers? As a result of qualitative research, research data were obtained through document study, observation, and in-depth interviews with students or youth, educators, and stakeholders related to the problems studied. The data collected was analyzed by descriptive qualitatively and applying the theory of symbolic interactionism and the theory of developmental ecology. The results of the study show that first, the form of sexual violence that is spread by social media to adolescents is the dissemination of content in the form of photos and videos by students that leads to violence in the form of threats and the real of pornography, so, based on the case of sexual violence, education is needed. in the form of understanding to be wiser in using media and assistance to students or teenagers in using social media. Second, the sexual violence experienced by teenagers can be anticipated by implementing the Catur Guru teachings, namely: (a) maintaining religious awareness (Guru Swadyaya) so that teenagers do not fall into sexual behavior that violates religious norms, (b) parental assistance for teenagers (Guru Rupaka), which is adequate, (c) there is a sufficient direction and sexual education by teachers at the school (Guru Pengajian) which is quite intensive so that teenagers do not become victims of sexual violence, and (d) the implementation of strict policies by the government (Guru Wisesa) in brake the negative influence of social media. Socialization of Catur Guru teachings in curbing the negative influence of social media through outreach activities about the dangers of sexual violence and legal action for violators. The socialization of Catur Guru teachings in anticipating sexual violence against teenagers from social media needs to be developed. In addition, strict legal action must be put in place so that violators of sexual violence can be anticipated.

Effects of Blended Learning Program for Cyber Sexual Harassment Prevention among Female High School Students in Bangkok, Thailand.

Cyber sexual harassment has been increasing and has become a major public health problem among youths. Therefore, this study primarily aimed to evaluate the effects of a blended learning program on knowledge, attitudes, intention to cope with cyber sexual harassment, behavioral coping strategies, and cyber sexual harassment among female high-school students in Bangkok, Thailand. A quasi-experimental study with a two-group design was conducted from May 2021 to October 2021. A total of 112 students were recruited into either an intervention (n = 56) or a control (n = 56) group. The intervention group participated in a blended learning program for 12 weeks. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by both groups at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up. Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis. The mean score of the intervention group in knowledge, attitude, intention to cope with cyber sexual harassment, behavioral coping strategies, and cyber sexual harassment after completing the program and follow-up were significantly different from baseline and the control group (p < 0.05). A positive effect of the blended learning program was observed among female students. Therefore, this program can be useful for victims, supporting their self-confidence with decreased frequency of cyber sexual harassment experiences.

A Critical Discourse Analysis of Sexual Harassment Against Women in Online Mass Media

This study used Fairclough's critical discourse analysis theory to analyse the news articles published in Magdalene ??and Femina magazines in 2020. The authors particularly emphasised finding one of three aspects of Fairclough's socio-cultural practice: power. From this point, the authors attempted to find out the depiction of women and the stance of the contributors in the news articles about sexual harassment. This study found that the aspect of power constructed by contributors from news articles and magazines depicted women and men as vulnerable groups to sexual harassment. However, the harassment is described as still predominantly experienced by women. The findings also suggested that the contributors attempted to oppose male domination and power relations in the scope of work, especially in cyber sexual harassment.

Sexual Violence Associated With Sexual Identity and Gender Among California Adults Reporting Their Experiences as Adolescents and Young Adults

Disproportionate levels of violence exist in lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, asexual, and other sexual identity (LGBQA+) communities, often starting in adolescence and young adulthood, but little research exists on the range of sexual violence (SV) experiences. To assess risk of experiences of sexual violence among California LGBQA+ adults during adolescence and young adulthood. This survey study analyzed data from Cal-VEX 2020, a state-representative survey of California residents aged 18 years and older, to assess associations between LGBQA+ identification and types of SV experienced in adolescence (ages 13-17 years) and young adulthood (ages 18-24 years) using gender-stratified adjusted logistic regression. Forms of SV included verbal, cyber, and coercion or physically aggressive sexual harassment; homophobic or transphobic slurs; and forced sex. Sexual identity. The outcome of interest was experiences with any 5 forms of sexual violence (verbal sexual harassment, homophobic or transphobic slurs, cyber sexual harassment, sexual coercion or physically aggressive sexual harassment, and forced sex) during adolescence or young adulthood. A total of 2102 contacted individuals (response rate, 26.2%) completed the Cal-VEX survey and were included in these analyses. Among these, the mean (SD) age was 46.6 (17.7) years, 1149 identified as female, 953 identified as male, and 214 respondents (9.6%) identified as LGBQA+. Compared with heterosexual individuals, LGBQA+ individuals had significantly higher odds of having experienced homophobic or transphobic slurs (women: AOR, 14.65; 95% CI, 5.14-41.77; men: AOR, 14.17; 95% CI, 6.96-28.86) and forced sex (women: AOR, 5.35; 95% CI, 2.74-10.43; men: AOR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.01-7.10) in adolescence. LGBQA+ women also had higher odds of having experienced verbal and coercion or physically aggressive sexual harassment in adolescence (AOR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.30-4.19). In young adulthood, LGBQA+ individuals also had higher odds of having experienced homophobic or transphobic slurs (women: AOR, 18.58; 95% CI, 7.12-48.49; men: AOR, 16.73; 95% CI, 8.26-33.92) in young adulthood. LGBQA+ men also had higher odds of having experienced homophobic or transphobic slurs (AOR, 16.73; 95% CI, 8.26-33.92); verbal (AOR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.44-7.53), cyber (AOR, 6.32; 95% CI, 1.50-26.52), and coercion or physically aggressive (AOR, 5.54; 95% CI, 2.08-14) sexual harassment; and forced sex (AOR, 21.26; 95% CI, 5.63-80.35) in young adulthood. This survey study found that adult LGBQA+ individuals were at increased risk for having experienced SV across the continuum during adolescence and young adulthood, consistent with prior research. Multifold solutions are needed to support LGBQA+ youth, including altering social norms accepting SV and homophobia, creating safer schools and other institutional environments, and supporting healthy sexual and romantic partnerships.

Iranian Nurses' Experiences with Sexual Harassment in Workplace: a Qualitative Study.

BackgroundSexual harassment has become a worldwide issue in recent years. Nursing, like other professions, is vulnerable to this type of harm. Sexual harassment impairs nurses’ ability to provide comprehensive care, resulting in psychological discomfort, diminished work commitment, absenteeism, and job termination. The current study was carried out to investigate Iranian nurses’ experiences with sexual harassment in the workplace.Materials and MethodsThis qualitative study used conventional content analysis with a descriptive exploratory approach to investigate the experiences of Iranian nurses. Between September 2020 and April 2021, we conducted semi-structured and in-depth interviews with 22 employed nurses, recruited via a purposeful method. Age, sex, work experience, degree of education, marital status, and hospital and ward type were observed to acquire rich information.ResultsThe study’s data produced 354 codes, 1 main category, 5 s categories, and 23 sub categories. The main category of nurses’ sexual harassment in the workplace is divided into five categories: verbal, physical, visual, seduction, and cybersexual harassment. The most and least common types of harassment were verbal and cybersexual harassment, respectively. Nurse harassment was perpetrated by patients and their families, physicians, colleagues, and other hospital personnel.ConclusionAccording to the findings of this study, the majority of nurses have been subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace in various forms. Given the negative consequences of workplace harassment, managers and policymakers should develop guidelines in the areas of workplace ethics, legal accountability, and workplace safety. There is also a need to develop training programs for nurses to improve their coping skills. More quantitative and qualitative research in other healthcare groups is needed to confirm the findings of this study.

The Cyber Avatar of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace: Media Analysis of Reports During COVID-19

Background: Whether working at physical workplaces or from the seeming safety of home, women employees continue to be hounded by sexual harassment. During COVID-19, sexual harassment has taken on a cyber avatar and continues to enjoy the protections afforded by ambiguity and inept implementation. Objectives: The study explores how media reported cyber sexual harassment (CSH) during a 1-year period after COVID-19 in India. It explores the dominant discourses evident in such media reports, such as the ways in which CSH is manifested, psychosocial factors behind the same, action taken (if any), and organizational practices. Method: The present study involved content analysis of electronic print media content (newspapers and magazines) published in India, in the English language, between the period March 2020 and February 2021. A final pool of 24 articles was purposively arrived at through an Internet-based search, which was classified as news story, editorial, opinion piece, interview, column, and other. Content analysis of the articles was carried out to uncover the main themes. Within these themes, the researchers carried out open coding to identify subthemes. Results: Six broad themes emerged from the articles: manifestations of CSH, causes of CSH, outcomes of CSH, action taken by the victim, organizational practices, and barriers in seeking redressal. Manifestations included inappropriate behavior by boss/colleagues during meeting (30.6%), social media harassment (22.6%), video calls/meeting/work at odd hours (17.7%), inappropriate attire (14.5%), sexist behavior and comments (8.1%), and inappropriate jokes (6.2%). Some of the causes reported for CSH were blurring of personal and professional boundaries, lack of guidelines regarding virtual workplaces, job uncertainty, and notions of patriarchy. Only 29.2% articles highlighted any action(s) taken by the victim. Some of the barriers in seeking redressal were reported to be lack of awareness and/or clear guidelines, fear about the repercussions, difficulty in proving CSH, daunting appellate process, lack of privacy with family members around, and patriarchal culture. Conclusion: The study reiterates the need for clear and consistent communication on CSH, both in organizations and through the media. It is imperative not only to revive and modify the existing policies on CSH but also to implement them effectively. In the “new normal,” organizations need to formulate responses that are multilevel, swift, and coordinated across stakeholders, policymakers, technology specialists, and social scientists.

Termination of Cyber-Sexual Harassment and Abuse with Teenagers using Artificial Intelligence

Termination of Cyber-Sexual Harassment and Abuse with Teenagers using Artificial Intelligence

Assessing the relationship between cyber and traditional forms of bullying and sexual harassment: Stepping stones or displacement?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cyberbullying and cyber-sexual harassment perpetration serve as antecedents or stepping stones to traditional bullying and sexual harassment, or whether traditional bullying and sexual harassment victimization encourage displacement in the form of anonymous aggressive activities like cyberbullying and cyber-sexual harassment. This research question was evaluated in a sample of 2,039 (52% female) high school students from the Illinois Study of Bullying and Sexual Violence (ISBSV) using two waves of longitudinal data. Two hypotheses were tested in two separate analyses, using bullying and cyberbullying data in one analysis, and sexual harassment and cyber-sexual harassment data in the other analysis. The stepping-stone hypothesis predicted that children would use the anonymity of cyber-bullying/harassment as a stepping stone or learning curve toward eventual involvement in face-to-face bullying/harassment. The displacement hypothesis, by contrast, held that children victimized face-to-face with traditional forms of bullying/harassment would seek release from their victimization by engaging in the largely anonymous activities of cyberbullying and cyber-sexual harassment. In both the bullying and harassment analyses, the pathway running from traditional bullying/harassment victimization to cyber-bullying/harassment perpetration proved significant, consistent with the displacement hypothesis. The pathway running from cyber aggression to traditional aggression failed to achieve significance in both the bullying and harassment analyses, providing no support for the stepping-stone hypothesis. These results imply that anonymity plays an important role in linking traditional and cyber forms of bullying and harassment.

Assessing the relationship between cyber and traditional forms of bullying and sexual harassment: Stepping stones or displacement?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cyberbullying and cyber-sexual harassment perpetration serve as antecedents or stepping stones to traditional bullying and sexual harassment, or whether traditional bullying and sexual harassment victimization encourage displacement in the form of anonymous aggressive activities like cyberbullying and cyber-sexual harassment. This research question was evaluated in a sample of 2,039 (52% female) high school students from the Illinois Study of Bullying and Sexual Violence (ISBSV) using two waves of longitudinal data. Two hypotheses were tested in two separate analyses, using bullying and cyberbullying data in one analysis, and sexual harassment and cyber-sexual harassment data in the other analysis. The stepping-stone hypothesis predicted that children would use the anonymity of cyber-bullying/harassment as a stepping stone or learning curve toward eventual involvement in face-to-face bullying/harassment. The displacement hypothesis, by contrast, held that children victimized face-to-face with traditional forms of bullying/harassment would seek release from their victimization by engaging in the largely anonymous activities of cyberbullying and cyber-sexual harassment. In both the bullying and harassment analyses, the pathway running from traditional bullying/harassment victimization to cyber-bullying/harassment perpetration proved significant, consistent with the displacement hypothesis. The pathway running from cyber aggression to traditional aggression failed to achieve significance in both the bullying and harassment analyses, providing no support for the stepping-stone hypothesis. These results imply that anonymity plays an important role in linking traditional and cyber forms of bullying and harassment.