Sexual harassment perceptions among Puerto Rican female former athletes

Abstract

Sexual harassment is a prominent social issue across cultures and in all segments of society, including sport. However, there is little research on sexual harassment in different cultures. Specifically, the lack of sport research within the Hispanic-Caribbean culture limits the understanding about sexual-based behaviors occurring in sport settings. In this study six female former athletes were interviewed regarding their sexual harassment experiences and coping responses within the Puerto Rican sport culture. The group analysis found that verbal harassment (e.g., jokes, sexual remarks) was more expected and socially tolerable than physical harassment. The narratives also revealed individual differences based on situations and relationships with the harasser. Athletes' harassment coping responses included avoidance, social support, verbal confrontation, resistance, and advocacy seeking. Interestingly, these former athletes consistently connected the incidents of sexual harassment with “the typical Puerto Rican macho culture” as the root of the phenomenon, separating their experiences from other cultures.

Keywords:

• sexual harassment
• sport
• female former athletes
• Puerto Rican sport

Acknowledgments

This project was funded by Dr. Ron Morrow Fellowship from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.