Gender and Politics: Views on Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment, or SH, is when someone does or says things that make others feel uncomfortable, scared, or disrespected. A study from Spain looked into how political beliefs affect how people see SH, and how this differs between men and women. Researchers talked to students at a university in Spain about their views on SH. They found that people who lean left politically have a different take on SH compared to those who lean right or are in the middle. Left-wing folks tend to reject SH more strongly and believe less in myths that make it seem okay.One type of SH in Spain is called "piropos, " where strangers comment on a woman's looks in public. The study showed that left-wing people strongly reject piropos, while right-wing people are more accepting of them. Interestingly, men on the right are more likely to believe SH myths and find piropos acceptable compared to women on the right. So, how you view SH can depend on your politics and your gender. But it's important to remember that SH is never okay, no matter what your beliefs are.