Female students’ experiences of sexual harassment in a Greek university: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

The phenomenon of sexual harassment disproportionately affects young women and particularly female university students, with prevalence rates ranging from 20% to 50%. These figures are consistently reproduced within universities, where unequal power dynamics, gender-based inequalities and systemic discrimination persist, often due to absence of long-term preventive and responsive measures. The existing literature primarily focuses on the quantitative assessment of the phenomenon and its characteristics, while research focusing specifically on Greek universities remains scarce. Thus, this study aims to explore sexual harassment through the personal narratives of six university students who had directly experienced such incidents and voluntarily agreed to talk about it. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. This study adhered strictly to ethical standards and received approval from a research ethics committee. Two key themes emerged from the analysis: (a) sexual harassment as a dynamic experience and (b) sexual harassment as a means of preserving gendered inequalities within the university. Among other insights, participants emphasized the role of gendered power imbalances in perpetuating the phenomenon, the broader impact on their personal and academic lives, internal processes of self-doubt, and the pressing need for institutional mechanisms to address the issue within academia. Furthermore, the research process itself was empowering, providing participants with a safe space to share their experiences and reflections. The findings offer valuable insights that may inform the development of targeted interventions and policies aimed at preventing sexual harassment and fostering a safer and more equitable university environment.