Sexual harassment and abuse in the equine sector
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5625907 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Susanne Johansson (0000-0002-5575-4737, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Sweden, corresponding author), Nina Sølvberg (0000-0002-6334-9811, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences), Åse Strandbu (0000-0001-6209-5066, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences), Lovisa Broms (0000-0002-3496-2940, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Sweden; Malmö University, Sweden), Susanna Hedenborg (0000-0002-4802-9932, Malmö University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publication date | 2025-10-09 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Review for the Sociology of Sport (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1012-6902 • E-ISSN: 1461-7218 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/10126902251384141 |
| OpenAlex | W4415064230 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 35 |
Sexual harassment and abuse (SHA) are recognized problems in sport contexts, yet little is known about their occurrence in the equine sector. This study examined reported experiences of SHA among participants in the Swedish and Norwegian equine sector. An intersectional framework was applied to analyze the interplay of social characteristics and culturally informed inequalities associated with SHA. A retrospective, cross-sectional survey ( N = 653) using the Interpersonal Violence Against Children in Sport Questionnaire (IVACS-Q) measured lifetime self-reported experiences of SHA in a self-selected sample, the majority of whom were women. Over half (54.9%) of respondents reported lifetime experiences of SHA in equine environments, including contact and noncontact forms. The vast majority of those reporting SHA were women, often in subordinate roles such as grooms or stable staff, who spent extensive time in equine environments. Reported perpetrators were most often older men in positions of authority linked to equine-centered power, such as riding instructors, stable owners, and horse owners. The findings highlight structural and organizational vulnerabilities in equine culture, where gender, age, and equine-centered power intersect to shape conditions associated with SHA. Therefore, preventing SHA in the equine sector requires context-sensitive, culturally and intersectionally informed safeguarding efforts
Harassment · Interpersonal communication · Interpersonal relationship · Interpersonal violence · Norwegian · Safeguarding · Sexual abuse · Sexual assault · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Sex work and related issues · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Interpersonal violence against children in sport in the Netherlands and Belgium
A Global Perspective on Child Sexual Abuse
Global, regional, and national prevalence estimates of physical or sexual, or both, intimate partner violence against women in 2018
Intersectionality in quantitative research
The world report on violence and health
Women’s Experiences of Gender-Based Interpersonal Violence in Sport
What Enables Child Sexual Abuse in Sport? A Systematic Review
Sexual Violence and the Coach–Athlete Relationship—a Scoping Review From Sport Sociological and Sport Psychological Perspectives
Sexual harassment and abuse in coach–athlete relationships in Sweden
Are some sports riskier than others? An investigation into child athlete experiences of interpersonal violence in relation to sport type and gender
From giving orders to engaging in dialogue
Prevalence of Sexual Harassment among Norwegian Female Elite Athletes Inrelation to Sport Type
Comprehensive Overview of the Problem of Violence Against Athletes in Sport
Silence, Power, and Inequality
Intersectionality's Definitional Dilemmas
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |