Gender Differences in the Experience of Sexual Harassment and Assault, and Attitudes toward the #metoo Campaign

ABSTRACT

The goal of the current study was to examine gender differences in the experiences of sexual harassment and assaults, and attitudes toward sexual harassment and toward the #MeToo campaign. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 364 women and 253 men. Although the study revealed high percentages of women and men who experienced sexual harassment and assault victimization, significant gender differences were found in almost all outcomes examined: 29% of women reported having experienced sexual assaults compared to 15% of men. Significant gender differences were also found in attitudes toward sexual harassment and toward the #MeToo campaign, women being more positive toward the campaign than men. A stepwise regression was found to be significant, with demographic variables, attitudes toward sexual harassment, and being victims of sexual harassment predicting approximately 46% of the variance in attitudes toward the #MeToo campaign. The higher prevalence of women who reported having experienced sexual harassment and assaults demonstrates that prevention interventions against sexual harassment in society must continue, and awareness of the issue must be intensified. Additionally, interventions and campaigns should focus on men as well, who should also be recognized as victims.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual harassment
• sexual assault
• #MeToo campaign
• gender differences
• attitudes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hagit Bonny-Noach

Dr. Hagit Bonny-Noach (Ph.D), is a senior lecturer and researcher in the Department of Criminology -Ariel University. She is a board member of Israeli Society of Addiction Medicine (ILSAM) and a research fellow in the institute for the Health Promotion and Well-being Research Center (HPRC) in Ariel University. Her research and teaching areas include criminology and deviance, substance use, drug policy, gambling and addiction.

Osnat Roth-Cohen

Dr. Osnat Roth-Cohen (Ph.D), is a senior lecturer in Strategic Communication and Media Studies at the school of Communication, Ariel University. Dr. Roth-Cohen is a research fellow in the institute for the study of new media, politics and society in Ariel University. Dr. Roth-Cohen's' research interests include digital advertising, advertising effects, and public relations. Her work was published in: Journal of Advertising, Feminist Media Studies, Journal of Gender Studies and Public Relations Review.

Vered Ne'eman-Haviv

Dr. Vered Ne'eman-Haviv (Ph.D), is a senior lecturer and researcher in the Department of Criminology, Ariel University. Her research interests include interdisciplinary fields related to morality, gender, and misuse of psychoactive substances.