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.
Men with an intersex variation were more likely than other men to have experienced workplace sexual harassment (83% and 25% respectively). The sample size was too small among women with an intersex variation to draw firm conclusions. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people The prevalence of sexual harassment experienced in the workplace in the past five was substantially higher among people who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (53%) compared with those who did not (32%). The same pattern existed for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and men, with 50% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and 55% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women having experienced workplace sexual harassment in the last five years. People with disability People with disability were more likely than without disability to have been sexually harassed in their workplace in the last five years (44% and 32% respectively). Both men (35%) and women (52%) with disability were more likely than those without disability to have experienced workplace sexual harassment during this period. People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds Overall, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of workplace harassment based on main language spoken at home (32% English, 34% language other than English). However, men who mainly spoke a language other than English at home (33%) were more likely than men who spoke mainly English at home (26%) to have experienced workplace sexual harassment in the last five years. It is important to note that the survey was delivered in English and it is therefore possible that comprehension of the survey questions or cultural differences may have impacted responses to this question. Household income The prevalence of workplace sexual harassment was broadly similar across most household income bands, though slightly higher among those earning lower incomes. Rates of workplace sexual harassment in the past five years ranged from 30% of people earning $150,000 to $199,999 per year, up to 39% of people earning $25,000 to $34,999 per year.
Reported experiencing sexual harassment on basis of legal definition (women) 41% 32% 33% 61% Reported experiencing sexual harassment on basis of legal definition (men) 14% 8% 9% 23% Prevalence of workplace sexual harassment in the past five years (overall) 11% 4% 21% 33% Prevalence of workplace sexual harassment in the past five years (women) 15% *Not reported in 2008 survey report 25% 39% Prevalence of workplace sexual harassment in the past five years (men) 6% *Not reported in 2008 survey report 16% 26% Male perpetrators of workplace sexual harassment 79% 81% 79% 79% People who reported workplace sexual harassment 32% 16% 20% 17% Bystanders to sexual harassment *No comparator *No valid comparator 13% 38% Bystanders to sexual harassment who took action *No valid comparator *No valid comparator 51% 35%
IF EXPERIENCED ANY WORK-RELATED SEXUALLY HARASSING BEHAVIOUR IN LAST 5 YEARS (CODE 1 AT Q4a1), ASK Q19. What was your occupation at the time of the most recent incident of sexual harassment? SINGLE RESPONSE – INTERVIEWER NOTE: IF NECESSARY, READ OUT 1 Professional Worker – lawyer, doctor, scientist, teacher, engineer, nurse, accountant, investment banker, stock brokerage, marketing, musician CONTINUE 2 Manager, Executive or Official – in a business, government agency, or other organization CONTINUE 3 Business Owner – such as a store, factory, plumbing contractor, etc. CONTINUE 4 Clerical or Office Worker – in business, government agency, or other type of organization – such as a typist, secretary, postal clerk, telephone operator, computer operator, data entry, bank clerk, etc. CONTINUE 5 Sales Worker – clerk in a store, door-to-door salesperson, sales associate CONTINUE 6 Manufacturer’s Representative – outside sales person, sales representative CONTINUE 7 Service Worker – policeman / woman, fireman, waiter or waitress, maid, nurse’s aide, attendant, barber or beautician, fast-food CONTINUE 8 Skilled Tradesman – printer, tailor, electrician, machinist, linesman, railroad engineer, plumber, or does mechanical work such as garage mechanic, carpenter, etc. CONTINUE 9 Semi-skilled Worker – operates a machine in a factory, is an assembly line worker in a factory, drives a truck, taxi cab, or bus, etc. CONTINUE 10 Unskilled / Labourer / Elementary Occupations – plumber’s helper, construction labourer, longshoreman, sanitation worker, maintenance, housekeeping, or other physical work CONTINUE 11 Technology professional – web designer, network administrator, systems engineer, programmer, systems analyst, Internet, IT CONTINUE 12 Agriculture and Fishery Workers CONTINUE
Appendix C: Comparison of sexual harassment behaviours used over time 2003 2008 2012 2018 Unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing Unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing Unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing Unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing Staring or leering Inappropriate staring or leering that made you feel intimidated Inappropriate staring or leering that made you feel intimidated Inappropriate staring or leering that made you feel intimidated Suggestive comments or jokes Sexually suggestive comments or jokes that made you feel offended Sexually suggestive comments or that made you feel offended Sexual gestures, indecent exposure or inappropriate display of the body Sexually explicit pictures or posters Sexually explicit pictures, posters or gifts that made you feel offended Sexually explicit pictures, posters or that made you feel offended Sexually explicit pictures, posters or gifts that made you feel offended Unwanted invitations to go out on dates Repeated or inappropriate invitations to go out on dates Repeated or inappropriate invitations to go out on dates Repeated or inappropriate invitations to go out on dates Intrusive questions about your private life or body Intrusive questions about your private life or physical appearance that made you feel offended Intrusive questions about your private life or physical appearance that made you feel offended Intrusive questions about your private life or physical appearance that made you feel offended Sexually explicit emails or SMS messages Sexually explicit emails or SMS messages Sexually explicit emails or SMS messages Sexually explicit comments made in emails, SMS messages or on social media
Indecent phone calls, including someone leaving a sexually explicit message on voicemail or an answering machine Requests or pressure for sex Requests or pressure for sex or other sexual acts Requests or pressure for sex or other sexual acts Requests or pressure for sex or other sexual acts Actual or attempted rape or assault Actual or attempted rape or assault Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault Something Else Any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature Any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature Any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that occurred online or via some form of technology