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Examining the immediate and enduring psychological impact of street harassment on women’s mental health

Georgina Thornton (Department of Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK)
Dominic Willmott (Division of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK)
Emma Richardson (Division of Communication and Media Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK)
Lara Hudspith (Lara Hudspith is based at the Department of Nursing, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada)

Mental Health and Social Inclusion

ISSN: 2042-8308

Article publication date: 15 August 2023

Issue publication date: 2 December 2024

263

Abstract

Purpose

Many women report experiences of street harassment during their lifetime. Previous quantitative survey research has shown the variety of ways in which this type of harassment can impact upon a victim’s life, including restricting their freedom of movement and fear of further victimisation. The purpose of this study is understand the immediate and enduring psychological impact of street harassment on female victim-survivors.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study aims to explore, qualitatively, women’s experiences of street harassment through thematic analysis of on 35 online blog posts. Data were collected from the “Stop Street Harassment” website, where women are invited to share their experiences anonymously.

Findings

Three main themes were generated from the data. First was the age at which women began to experience street harassment, with recurring early incidents during formative childhood years. Second was the impact that experiences had on their mental health and psychological well-being with feelings of shame, fear, self-loathing, as well as decreased self-esteem and confidence experienced in the immediate aftermath – though the longer-term negative emotions reported were enduring feelings of anger alongside a constant state of anxiety from feelings of vulnerability to further victimisation. The final theme was the modification of behaviour after experiencing street harassment where women choose to avoid walking alone on the streets or consciously changed their clothing choices, to avoid being harassed.

Originality/value

This study offers a further qualitative insight into the real-life experience and psychological consequences of street harassment upon survivors’ mental health.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the women who blogged about their experiences of street harassment, which made the current study possible, and to the “Stop Street Harassment” website, for creating a platform by which these experiences could be anonymously shared. The authors also thank Ruby-Faith Oak for her research assistance in reading, downloading and screening blog posts in the first instance.

Funding details: No funding received to carry out this research.

Disclosure statement: The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Citation

Thornton, G., Willmott, D., Richardson, E. and Hudspith, L. (2024), "Examining the immediate and enduring psychological impact of street harassment on women’s mental health", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 28 No. 5, pp. 734-744. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-07-2023-0080

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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