Women, Sexual Harassment, and Coping Strategies: A Descriptive Analysis

Objectives: Sexual harassment is one of the most common workplace issues that female employees may experience. The issue is especially severe for women working in a healthcare setting due to factors, such as unequal hierarchical power, night shifts, and a significant volume of visitors, etc. This study sought to characterize and categorize responses to and causes of acute sexual harassment. Methods: Thirty-nine hospital employees who had experienced sexual harassment were selected for in-depth interviews as part of a qualitative study designed to collect data. Results: The responses were categorized chronologically as pre-, during-, and post-harassment. Preventive strategies were the most notable pre-harassment responses, whereas, during harassment, diffusion, denial, avoidance, and behavioral changes were the most significant responses. Nonetheless, since diffusion, avoidance, non-disclosure, and non-reporting could result in the persistence of the harassment, the post-harassment strategies shed light on the factors that determined the victims' failure to disclose sexual harassment. Discussion: Although women experience sexual harassment in healthcare settings, they typically refrain from reporting it and respond passively to such situations. Formal and informal organizational support for the harassed women can empower them to resist harassers and report their conduct in hospital settings.