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Sexual Harassment and Coercion in German Academia: A Large-Scale Survey Study
Merle Hoebel1, Ana Durglishvili1, Johanna Reinold1
1Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Sexual Offending (Trier, Germany)
|February 4, 2025
Summary
Sexual harassment and coercion (SH/C) disproportionately affect women in German academia. Reporting channels are largely dysfunctional, with low report rates due to perceived lack of consequences and a desire to avoid distress.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Higher Education Studies
Background:
- Sexual harassment and coercion (SH/C) are significant issues in academic environments.
- Understanding the prevalence and reporting behaviors related to SH/C is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of SH/C experiences among students and employees at a German university.
- To examine reporting behaviors and reasons for non-reporting of SH/C incidents.
- To evaluate the perceived effectiveness of existing complaint systems.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale survey (N = 6,217) was conducted with university students and employees.
- Participants were categorized based on their direct experiences, knowledge of others' experiences, or lack of experience with SH/C.
- Pre-registered analyses were used to examine gender differences and reporting patterns.
Main Results:
- Women (26.7%) experienced SH/C significantly more often than men (4.7%).
- Men were more likely to have no knowledge of SH/C incidents (OR: 1.75).
- A very small percentage of SH/C experiences were reported; primary reasons for non-reporting included perceived lack of consequences and desire to avoid emotional distress. Higher offense severity correlated with a greater desire to avoid distress.
- Reporting SH/C often resulted in no significant consequences.
Conclusions:
- SH/C is a prevalent issue in German academia, with women being disproportionately affected.
- Existing complaint systems for SH/C appear largely dysfunctional, as evidenced by low reporting rates and lack of perceived consequences.
- Interventions are needed to improve reporting mechanisms and address the underlying issues of SH/C in academic settings.
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