Young women’s perspectives on unwanted sexual attention: navigating boundaries, responsibility, and prevention – a qualitative study

TL;DR

This study explores how young Norwegian women experience unwanted sexual attention and what they believe can help prevent it.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into young women's perspectives on preventing and managing unwanted sexual attention in Norway.

Findings

Young women perceive unwanted sexual attention as normalized, affecting their well-being.

They emphasize the importance of peer support and speaking up in response to such attention.

Improved sexual education and collaboration between schools and health services are seen as key to prevention.

Abstract

Norwegian youth report experiences of unwanted sexual attention (UWSA), which can negatively affect sexual health, well-being and quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore young women’s perceptions of UWSA in Norway and their views on how it can be prevented and managed.

This study employed an exploratory and descriptive design, based on nine individual interviews with young women aged 16–23.

Three overarching categories were identified: 1) Individual perceptions of severity and consequences of UWSA—towards normalization, 2) The importance of looking out for one another, the courage to speak up, and possessing the capacity for action in situational contexts; and 3) The need for increased knowledge on sexual health, sexual rights, and boundary-setting.

The study underscores the need to strengthen sexuality education, emphasizing sexual rights, respect for personal boundaries, and young people's ability to act appropriately to UWSA. Challenging gender stereotypes and the normalization of UWSA is crucial. Expanded collaboration between schools and school health services on structured, student-active programs, including training in how to respond to UWSA, may help to prevent sexual harassment. Preventive efforts must be politically and organizationally anchored, with responsibility understood as collective rather than solely individual.