Breaking the silence
Patterns of women’s responses to sexual harassment
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22111176 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hemlata Vivek Gaikwad (0000-0002-9452-6884, Symbiosis International University, corresponding author), Suruchi Pandey (0000-0003-2752-9468, Symbiosis International University), Krishnaji Patil (Bhailalbhai and Bhikhabhai Institute of Technology) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-12-31 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cogent Social Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2331-1886 • E-ISSN: 2331-1886 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/23311886.2025.2598727 |
| OpenAlex | W4417233706 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 67 |
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
Assertiveness · Grievance · Harassment · Interpersonal communication · Perception · Sexual orientation · Social support · Varimax rotation · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Adolescent stress and coping
Sexual harassment among adolescents of different sexual orientations and gender identities
Cyberbullying
Writing About Emotional Experiences as a Therapeutic Process
Personality and Coping
A Systematic Review of Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence
Effects of racial and sexual harassment on work and the psychological well-being of African American women.
A life-span theory of control.
Sexual harassment in work organizations
Gender harassment
Principal component analysis
Stress
Outcomes of self-labeling sexual harassment.
Worldwide prevalence of non-partner sexual violence
Intimate Partner Violence and Incident Depressive Symptoms and Suicide Attempts
The theory of planned behavior
You want to measure coping but your protocol’ too long
Coping
Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling
Educational attainment and emotional well-being in adolescence and adulthood
Sexual Harassment of Women
Stigma and mental health problems in an Indian context. Perceptions of people with mental disorders in urban, rural and tribal areas of Kerala
Employee Voice and Silence
Approach, avoidance, and coping with stress
Me too, #MeToo
A Theoretical Framework for Understanding Help-Seeking Processes Among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Sexual Harassment
Child Marriage and Intimate Partner Violence in Rural Bangladesh
The Dynamics of Women’s Empowerment
Why Didn't She Just Report Him? The Psychological and Legal Implications of Women's Responses to Sexual Harassment
The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support
Social Support as a Moderator of Life Stress
A stitch in time
Patterns of Positive and Negative Religious Coping with Major Life Stressors
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |