Comparative perceptions of sexual harassment among athletes across different competitive levels
PurposeDespite evidence that sports arenas are grooming ground for sexual harassment, consensus is still lacking what this term constitutes. The aim of this study is to examine how athletes of different levels and non-athletes perceive sexual harassment in sports through the lens of the Institutiona...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1468534/full |
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| author | Sima Zach Maayan Davidovitz Rona Cohen |
| author_facet | Sima Zach Maayan Davidovitz Rona Cohen |
| author_sort | Sima Zach |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PurposeDespite evidence that sports arenas are grooming ground for sexual harassment, consensus is still lacking what this term constitutes. The aim of this study is to examine how athletes of different levels and non-athletes perceive sexual harassment in sports through the lens of the Institutional Theory.MethodHundred and thirty pre-service physical education teachers (competitive and non-competitive athletes) and 53 Olympic athletes, rated 27 items divided into four levels of sexual harassment regarding men coaches' behaviors towards women athletes, on a scale of 1 (does not constitute sexual harassment) to 4 (constitutes sexual harassment to a great extent).FindingsNon-Olympic athletes rated the behaviors as constituting sexual harassment to a greater degree than Olympic athletes, in all categories, as did women participants compared to man. Both genders rated sexual harassment and exploitation as the most severe factor followed by Sexist behavior, yet the more competitive the athletes, the less they perceived such behaviors as disturbing. The Professional contact factor was rated as the least disturbing, with women rating it as less disturbing than men.ConclusionsThe study underscores the ambiguity surrounding the definition of sexual harassment in sports, emphasizing the necessity for clear boundaries to establish acceptable behavior. Such clarity is essential to ensure that all athletes feel safe within the sporting environment. It emphasizes the importance of zero tolerance for all harassing behaviors, regardless of severity, and the implementation of comprehensive policies and training programs in sport organizations. Moving forward, promoting respect, safety, and awareness, along with ongoing research and evaluation, are crucial for creating inclusive and safe sporting environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8f19d28575bb4db696791c98541d28de |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f19d28575bb4db696791c98541d28de2025-08-20T01:54:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-11-01610.3389/fspor.2024.14685341468534Comparative perceptions of sexual harassment among athletes across different competitive levelsSima Zach0Maayan Davidovitz1Rona Cohen2Levinsky-Wingate Academic College, Wingate Campus, Netanya, IsraelSchool of Education, The Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, IsraelLevinsky-Wingate Academic College, Wingate Campus, Netanya, IsraelPurposeDespite evidence that sports arenas are grooming ground for sexual harassment, consensus is still lacking what this term constitutes. The aim of this study is to examine how athletes of different levels and non-athletes perceive sexual harassment in sports through the lens of the Institutional Theory.MethodHundred and thirty pre-service physical education teachers (competitive and non-competitive athletes) and 53 Olympic athletes, rated 27 items divided into four levels of sexual harassment regarding men coaches' behaviors towards women athletes, on a scale of 1 (does not constitute sexual harassment) to 4 (constitutes sexual harassment to a great extent).FindingsNon-Olympic athletes rated the behaviors as constituting sexual harassment to a greater degree than Olympic athletes, in all categories, as did women participants compared to man. Both genders rated sexual harassment and exploitation as the most severe factor followed by Sexist behavior, yet the more competitive the athletes, the less they perceived such behaviors as disturbing. The Professional contact factor was rated as the least disturbing, with women rating it as less disturbing than men.ConclusionsThe study underscores the ambiguity surrounding the definition of sexual harassment in sports, emphasizing the necessity for clear boundaries to establish acceptable behavior. Such clarity is essential to ensure that all athletes feel safe within the sporting environment. It emphasizes the importance of zero tolerance for all harassing behaviors, regardless of severity, and the implementation of comprehensive policies and training programs in sport organizations. Moving forward, promoting respect, safety, and awareness, along with ongoing research and evaluation, are crucial for creating inclusive and safe sporting environments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1468534/fullsexual harassmentexploitationcoach-athlete relationshipspre-service physical education studentssafe sport |
| spellingShingle | Sima Zach Maayan Davidovitz Rona Cohen Comparative perceptions of sexual harassment among athletes across different competitive levels Frontiers in Sports and Active Living sexual harassment exploitation coach-athlete relationships pre-service physical education students safe sport |
| title | Comparative perceptions of sexual harassment among athletes across different competitive levels |
| title_full | Comparative perceptions of sexual harassment among athletes across different competitive levels |
| title_fullStr | Comparative perceptions of sexual harassment among athletes across different competitive levels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative perceptions of sexual harassment among athletes across different competitive levels |
| title_short | Comparative perceptions of sexual harassment among athletes across different competitive levels |
| title_sort | comparative perceptions of sexual harassment among athletes across different competitive levels |
| topic | sexual harassment exploitation coach-athlete relationships pre-service physical education students safe sport |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1468534/full |
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