Sexual harassment is a pervasive issue that stands as a significant barrier to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, which is Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda. This particular goal underscores the need for global action to end discrimination, violence, and any harmful practices against women and girls in the public and private spheres.
Sexual harassment, which can range from unwanted sexual advances to more severe forms of coercion and sexual assault, undermines this aim by perpetuating an environment of fear, stigma, and powerlessness among victims, who are predominantly female. It affects women's and girls’ ability to participate equally in education and workforce opportunities, leading to decreased economic participation and opportunity, which is a key focus of SDG 8, aimed at promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Furthermore, it can impact victims' mental and physical health, which relates directly to SDG 3, ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.
The spread and impact of sexual harassment are not limited to the victims; it ripples through society, affecting community safety, workplace productivity, and overall social cohesion. Addressing it requires a multifaceted approach that involves changing societal attitudes, implementing robust legal frameworks, and ensuring support services for survivors.
The interrelation between sexual harassment and multiple SDGs points to the complex nature of achieving the 2030 Agenda. Education plays a critical role here, relating to SDG 4, which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all, as education can transform social norms and challenge the attitudes that condone or ignore sexual harassment.
By educating both women and men about rights, consent, and respect, societies can move towards a culture that prioritizes dignity and equality for everyone. In the workplace, achieving SDG 8's target for decent work also hinges on environments free from harassment and violence, as these are key components of safe and secure working conditions. Therefore, sexual harassment directly thwarts efforts towards sustainable development by perpetuating inequality and suffering, deterring progress by creating obstacles to participation and advancement, and demanding an intersectional approach to SDG implementation that recognizes the indivisibility of human rights and economic development.
Rationale and Objectives: Our objectives were (1) to determine the extent to which gender discrimination and sexual harassment are experienced by female radiologists and trainees; (2) to examine whether experiencing harassment or discrimination influences perceptions of gender parity; and (3) to explore whether the existence of either formal institutional policies or the number of women in the workplace and/or in leadership positions influences perceptions of having achieved gender equity.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore male nurses’ experiences of workplace gender discrimination and sexual harassment in South Korea. Methods: Phenomenological qualitative methodology exploring male nurses’ experiences was employed to collect data, and thematic analysis of the data was conducted. Research subjects were recruited by convenience and snowball sampling. Ten male nurses participated in individual in-depth interviews via mobile phone. Data were collected from June 15 to July 24, 2020.
Although the last decades have seen an advance in equality and empowerment for women, there are still numerous challenges to be addressed. Among them, and particularly pressing in cities, are issues of gender-based violence, including sexual harassment in public spaces. Despite the numerous effects that street harassment has on women, and the high incidence of it in different countries, this issue has not been broadly studied, and even less so in cities in the Global South.
