Racially Minoritised Girls’ and Women’s Perceptions and Experiences of Public Sexual Harassment in the UK

Sexual harassment in public spaces is a pervasive and often normalised experience for racially minoritised girls and women, yet its intersections with racism and other forms of discrimination (e.g., racism) remain under-studied - particularly in the UK context. The present study explores how racially minoritised girls and women perceive and experience sexual harassment in the UK. Twenty-eight racially minoritized girls and women (Age M = 18.29, SD = 1.38; Range = 17-21) participated in either semi-structured interviews or focus groups. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and three themes were developed: [1] “Just take it as a compliment”: Being ‘grateful’ for harassment? [2] “Boys will be boys”: Sharing responsibility for harassment [3] “It doesn’t feel like a safe space”: Women need to be protected. The findings highlight how harassment experiences are racialised and influenced by intersecting cultural and societal norms surrounding gender and race. These complex dynamics have significant implications for the self-perceptions and wellbeing of racially minoritized girls and women. Recommendations for policy and practice are discussed.