Tara DUNCAN, Dalarna University, Sweden
Tone Therese LINGE, University of Stavanger, Norway
Olga GJERALD, University of Stavanger, Norway
Åse Helene Bakkevig DAGSLAND, University of Stavanger, Norway
Kai Victor HANSEN, University of Stavanger, Norway
Trude FURUNES, University of Stavanger, Norway
Magnfríður JÚLÍUSDÓTTIR, University of Iceland, Iceland
Maria THULEMARK, Dalarna University, Sweden
The prevalence of sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality (T&H) sector is very high compared to many other sectors, and workers in the T&H industry are often more exposed to workplace-related mistreatment and violence. Whilst sexual harassment has been addressed in numerous studies in T&H, a recent government report from Sweden states that there remains an “abject lack of research focusing … on preventive work against sexual harassment in Swedish and Nordic working life” (Simonsson, 2021, p.1). This paper takes an intersectional approach to begin to address this criticism utilising knowledge from partners in Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Part of the problem with investigating prevention and intervention of sexual harassment in T&H is the way sexual harassment is defined and experienced. In a T&H setting, it might occur between colleagues, be instigated by management or guests, or individuals might witness others being harassed. A report for UN Women (APPG, 2021) also examined the challenge of defining sexual harassment and how varying definitions of sexual harassment may contribute to under-reporting.
Adding to this is the general lack of intersectional approaches in research on work-life and sexual harassment (Brassel et al., 2020) and, more specifically, in T&H research (Morgan & Pritchard, 2019). This lack of research “leaves us with fragmented insight into how having several marginalized identities (e.g., being Black, queer, and a woman) may further complicate an individual’s experience” (Brassel et al., 2020, p.383-384). Reporting on the first stages of a research project, this paper will explore how intersectionality and a gendering organisation perspective (Mooney, 2020), alongside analysis of industry documents outlining intervention and prevention strategies for sexual harassment, can provide insights to inform future action and help to reduce social/power inequalities that limit who and how issues of sexual harassment are experienced and reported.
Mots clés : sexual harassment|intersectionality|tourism and hospitality|Nordic countries
A105521TD