Breaking the silence: patterns of women’s responses to sexual harassment

Globally, sexual harassment is a persistent socio-structural challenge with extensive psychological and behavioral consequences. This is more pronounced among young women navigating the educational, professional, and public spheres in India. This study explored the cumulative impact of sexual harassment on emotional and psychological well-being, the role of psychological and social support, and the mediating effects of coping strategies on general health outcomes among women aged 15–34. This study used Principal Component Analysis with varimax rotation to explore the latent dimensions of emotional and psychological impact, coping mechanisms, and perceptions of support among young women who have experienced harassment. The analysis reveals three distinct components: institutional engagement, emotional withdrawal, and reliance on informal social networks. These dimensions highlight the complex interplay between personal agency and structural barriers that shape women’s responses to sexual harassment. The findings also highlight the inadequacy of formal redressal systems in fostering psychological safety and trust, which leads these women to adopt avoidance-based or socially mediated coping strategies. By delineating these patterned responses, this study advances the theoretical understanding of coping in hostile environments and emphasizes the need for systemic reforms that prioritize psychological safety, effective grievance mechanisms, and contextual sensitivity when addressing harassment.