Prevalence of lifetime sexual harassment The majority of Australians have experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lifetimes. Nearly in four (71%) of Australians report having experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lives. Women were significantly more likely than men to have been sexually harassed over the course of their lifetimes. More than four in five (85%) Australian women 15 years and older have been sexually harassed at some point in their lifetimes. While men were less likely than women to be sexually harassed, the survey results indicate that the majority of Australian men do experience sexual harassment, with 56% of men over the age of 15 having experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lifetimes. These results are significantly higher than those identified in the 2016 Personal Safety Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which found that: approximately one in two aged 18 years or over (53%) had experienced sexual harassment by a male or female perpetrator during their lifetime, and an estimated one in four men aged 18 or over had experienced sexual harassment by any person throughout their lifetime. However, it is important to note that the Personal Safety Survey measures the prevalence of sexual harassment on the of seven sexual harassment behaviours compared with the more expansive list of 16 behaviours employed in the 2018 National Survey. Figure 1: Prevalence of lifetime sexual harassment Nature of lifetime sexual harassment The majority of sexual harassment victims have experienced multiple incidents of sexual harassment over the course of their lifetime. Most Australian women and men have experienced some form of sexual harassment over the course of their lifetimes, and the majority of people over the age of 15 who were sexually harassed have also experienced multiple forms of this behaviour. Overall, three in five (60%) people who were sexually harassed have experienced more than one form of sexual harassment in their lifetime. More than half of Australian women have experienced more than one type of sexual harassment over the course of their lifetimes.
Prevalence of lifetime sexual harassment The majority of Australians have experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lifetimes. Nearly in four (71%) of Australians report having experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lives. Women were significantly more likely than men to have been sexually harassed over the course of their lifetimes. More than four in five (85%) Australian women 15 years and older have been sexually harassed at some point in their lifetimes. While men were less likely than women to be sexually harassed, the survey results indicate that the majority of Australian men do experience sexual harassment, with 56% of men over the age of 15 having experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lifetimes. These results are significantly higher than those identified in the 2016 Personal Safety Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which found that: approximately one in two aged 18 years or over (53%) had experienced sexual harassment by a male or female perpetrator during their lifetime, and an estimated one in four men aged 18 or over had experienced sexual harassment by any person throughout their lifetime. However, it is important to note that the Personal Safety Survey measures the prevalence of sexual harassment on the of seven sexual harassment behaviours compared with the more expansive list of 16 behaviours employed in the 2018 National Survey. Figure 1: Prevalence of lifetime sexual harassment Nature of lifetime sexual harassment The majority of sexual harassment victims have experienced multiple incidents of sexual harassment over the course of their lifetime. Most Australian women and men have experienced some form of sexual harassment over the course of their lifetimes, and the majority of people over the age of 15 who were sexually harassed have also experienced multiple forms of this behaviour. Overall, three in five (60%) people who were sexually harassed have experienced more than one form of sexual harassment in their lifetime. More than half of Australian women have experienced more than one type of sexual harassment over the course of their lifetimes.
AHRC_WORKPLACE_SH_2018.docx