University Students’ Perceptions of Sexual Harassment in Sweden and Germany: A Qualitative Study

Sexual harassment is a phenomenon that has been receiving more attention from the public and the scientific community for some time. Despite a growing body of research on the prevalence and potential consequences of sexual harassment in academia, there is still a shortage of studies comparing different countries, and especially studies on university students’ perceptions towards sexual harassment from a qualitative perspective. This study aims to explore how sexual harassment is perceived by German and Swedish university students, with a focus on the victims and perpetrators they believe are involved and the arenas in which students believe sexual harassment could happen. In this study, a total of 27 individual interviews were conducted with undergraduate and graduate university students in Sweden and Germany. In a thematic analysis of the material, three main themes were identified: (1) the role of gender dynamics, (2) power imbalance and hierarchy, and (3) expectations of safety. These findings underscore the persistence of perceived gender dynamics and power imbalances within the context of sexual harassment in academia.