Migrant and refugee women’s attitudes, experiences and responses to sexual harassment in the workplace

This project undertook a national study to investigate migrant and refugee women’s experiences of, understandings of and responses to sexual harassment.

It found that workplace sexual harassment was common for migrant and refugee women, and that experiences of workplace sexual harassment were bound up with experiences of racial discrimination and exploitative work conditions.

This project builds on the existing evidence that migrant and refugee women are more likely to be in precarious employment (i.e. non-permanent, casualised or contract labour) and that factors such as limited English proficiency, non-permanent visa status, race-based bias and discrimination, and disparate cultural expectations can contribute to the likelihood of experiencing workplace-based sexual harassment.

Research aim/s

This research set out to build a detailed national picture of the experiences of a diverse group of migrant and refugee women to inform more targeted engagement with women and workplaces regarding unacceptable workplace behaviour.

It lays the groundwork for developing more informed and responsive systems that are attuned to the social and systemic factors that influence how migrant and refugee women in Australia negotiate and respond to experiences of sexual harassment as bystanders and/or targets.

Methods

This project used a multi-methods design involving an online survey, interviews and focus group discussions.