Factors Influencing Perceptions and Reactions to Sexual Harassment among Chinese College Students

Sexual harassment, a pervasive form of gender-based violence, inflicts profound adverse effects on survivors. Observers' perceptions and responses to such incidents shape their attitudes and behaviors. A systematic comprehension of the determinants that influence observers' perception of harassment, as well as tendencies for victim-blaming and sympathy, is crucial for devising efficacious intervention strategies. However, the existing body of research on this subject is fragmented, and studies within the Chinese context are notably scarce. This study examined the factors that influence observers' perceptions and reactions to sexual harassment in China, including the type of harassment (gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, or sexual coercion), observer gender, and observer characteristics (empathy, moral sensitivity, willingness to engage in feminist behaviors, sexism, sexual narcissism, sexual harassment myths, and tolerance of sexual harassment). The type of harassment and the gender of the observers influenced their perception of harassment, emotional response, the level of blame attributed to the victims, and their sympathy toward the victims' suffering. Observer characteristics further modulated perceptions and reactions, bifurcating into two distinct systems. Observers with heightened empathy, moral sensitivity, and feminist action readiness (the positive system) exhibited increased sensitivity, emotional connection, sympathy, and reduced victim-blaming. Conversely, those with elevated sexism, sexual narcissism, sexual harassment myth endorsement, and harassment tolerance (the negative system) demonstrated diminished sensitivity, emotional engagement, sympathy, and augmented victim-blaming. The findings indicate that effective interventions to prevent and reduce sexual harassment should address the underlying beliefs and values that influence how people perceive and respond to sexual harassment.