Sexual Harassment and Coping Strategies: Legal Responses and Victim Protection in Known and Unknown Perpetrator Cases

Abstract

Sexual harassment continues to be a global problem for a number of people from different societies and cultures. The paper at hand tackles the very complex issue of sexual harassment through a particular lens of ‘known accused versus unknown accused’. Known accused usually consist of former spouses or friends whom the victim has some level of trust, and thus the emotional damage is even greater as this trust is broken. For cases of unknown accused, those which are often instances of ‘anonymous online harassment’, social anxiety and other investigative issues that these cases involve add to the complexity of the case. The current study employs statistical information and two in-depth case studies to explain differences in satisfaction with the response of authorities towards the victims and even the legal processes undertaken. Victims of known perpetrators tend to be ostracised and are faced with legal biases as well as interpersonal disputes which have legal ramifications and thus, a claimant’s access to justice. At the same time, those who are victims of anonymous harassers suffer from numerous concerns about insecurity as well as legal problems relating to proof and jurisdiction. The study confirms the presence of stereotypes in the legal system as well as medium terms of assistance provided to the victims especially in cases related to de-facto’s digital harassment. The paper offers recommendations that are supposed to enhance the concerned policies, such as the decrease in non-emergency violence, further progress on digital forensic technologies, and more efficient coordination between victim support systems. It argues for a shift towards a victim-oriented paradigm, which strengthens the legal aspects, but also addresses emotional needs and social basis for change.