Street harassment of women and levels of anxiety and self-esteem

Street harassment is one of the forms of violence against women recognized by the UN since 2013. This type of violence involves a series of behaviors directed at women by one or more unknown men with no communicative intention. They are behaviors with a sexual nature and with the intention of degrading women. Despite the adjective “street”, it goes beyond the streets: parks, shopping centers, cinemas or university halls can be other locations.

Given the scarcity of studies on the subject in Spain and with the aim of knowing the prevalence and frequency of these behaviors and their impact on the psychological well-being of women, Ana M. Contreras Merino, Naima Z. Farhane Medina and Rosario Castillo Mayén, Researchers from the Department of Psychology at the University of Córdoba (UCO) in Spain have carried out a survey of the problem in the country, unifying different types of street harassment in public or semi-public places.

The study, which involved the participation of 245 women between 18 and 61 years old, reveals high rates of street harassment in Spain. “98% of the women surveyed had received some type of street harassment throughout their lives, 80% had experienced it monthly and 25.7% daily,” explains researcher Naima Farhane.

In relation to the impact that these behaviors can have on women’s lives, researcher Ana Contreras points out how it was found that “the greater the frequency of harassment experiences, the higher levels of anxiety and fear of rape were observed. Furthermore, the self-esteem was also diminished in relation to these experiences.” “The study asked about anxiety specifically, placing them in a situation of harassment so that they could indicate the discomfort they felt in relation to that experience,” explains researcher Rosario Castillo.

The authors of the work Naima Z. Farhane Medina, Ana M. Contreras Merino and Rosario Castillo Mayén. (Photo: UCO)

The change in women’s lives and routines to avoid harassment is also shown in the study, since the participants reported that they carried out restrictions on their mobility and avoided places when they were alone.

In this way, “street harassment is revealed as a control mechanism that reinforces the subordination of women. The fact that women use these avoidant strategies restricts public spaces to those who can occupy them with certain safety,” adds Farhane.

Thus, the limitation of women’s freedom of movement due to street harassment reflected in the study highlights the importance of this problem, despite the legislative support that exists in the country. As the researchers indicate, there is a dichotomy between what happens on the streets and regulatory advances, creating a kind of “equality bubble.”

Finally, another issue revealed by the study is that sexism is related to fewer reports of harassment experiences. It shows that, as Contreras analyzes, “maintaining a sexist ideology can make you not detect or remember these experiences of harassment, which are normalized and understood as part of the normal relationship between women and men.” And on the other hand, feminist women identified this type of behavior more.

The researchers point out training and the fight against sexism as possible ways to deal with these situations that, as they demonstrate, have a high impact on the lives and well-being of women. In their line of research, they will continue to delve deeper into the topic to learn about possible differences by age and to learn how they act and explore how women experience street harassment.

The study is titled “Unmasking Street Harassment in Spain: Prevalence, Psychological Impact, and the Role of Sexism in Women’s Experiences.” And it has been published in the academic journal Sex Roles. (Source: UCO)