Perceptions of sexual harassment in Swedish high schools: experiences and school-environment problems.
BACKGROUND
Sexual harassment in schools is recognized as a public-health problem detrimental to girls' psychosomatic health. This study examines the magnitude of sexual harassment and types of behaviours related to sexual harassment that female students are exposed to in a school environment, and their perceptions of them as problems in school.


METHODS
A random sample of 540 female high school students, from all over Sweden, responded to an anonymous self-report mail questionnaire consisting of items related to personal experiences of different behaviours related to sexual harassment during the previous school year.


RESULTS
Sexual harassment was identified by 49% of the female students as a problem present in their schools. The most common types were verbal behaviours, such as: sexualized conversations, attractiveness rating, demeaning comments about gender, name-calling, and sexual personal comments. The most common non-verbal displays were: sexualized contact seeking and sexual looks. Behaviours in the sexual assault and teacher-to-student categories were less prevalent. In all four categories, the respondents who reported exposure to a particular behaviour were significantly more likely to identify that behaviour as a problem in their school. However, many non-exposed respondents also perceived such behaviours as problems in their school.


CONCLUSIONS
Female high-school students in Sweden are exposed to a variety of inappropriate and/or unacceptable behaviours of a sexual nature, or based on sex, that may infringe their right to a supportive, respectful and safe learning environment or their dignity. Greater efforts are needed to analyse and prevent sexual harassment in schools.
Witkowska
Eva
E
National Institute for Working Life, Department of Work and Health, Stockholm, Sweden. eva.witkowska@ali.se
Menckel
Ewa
E
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012449:Safety; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology