CICANT researcher Carla Cerqueira co-authored a new study on sexual harassment in Portuguese higher education, published in Cadernos de Pesquisa. The article, “Assédio sexual no ensino superior em Portugal: Experiências de vitimação”, is authored by Fátima Ribeirinha (UC), Maria Helena Santos (ISCTE), Maria João Faustino (UC), Júlia Garraio (UC), Isabel Ventura (UAb), and Carla Cerqueira (UL).
The study addresses a pressing issue that has received growing media attention but remains underexplored academically. Using a qualitative approach, the researchers collected 31 responses via an online questionnaire from individuals who attended Portuguese higher education since 2011. Through thematic analysis, the study identifies patterns in participants’ experiences, highlighting the presence and normalization of sexual harassment in universities and the gendered power dynamics between students and faculty.
This research contributes valuable insights into the psychosocial impacts of harassment and the structural inequalities that sustain it in higher education, offering a foundation for future policies and interventions to foster safer and more equitable academic environments.
Read the article here.