“You Need a Thick Skin”: Working-Class Women’s Attitudes to Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a prevalent problem that impacts the lives of nearly every woman in the UK. However, not every woman experiences these issues in the same way. Specifically, working-class women experience sexual harassment more frequently and severely. The dissertation explored how this unique experience shapes the groups' perspectives on this issue. The study featured a qualitative methodology, using semi-structured interviews with 10 working-class women of various ages. More specifically, the sample consisted of two participants in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and early 60s. A thematic analysis of the interview transcripts identified four key themes. These themes were perceptions of normalisation, perceptions of harm, perceptions of the legal system, and perceptions of working-class tolerance. The findings concluded that class had a significant impact on perceptions of sexual harassment. Working-class women displayed a tendency to normalise sexual harassment (especially if they were from an older age group). They were also likely to have a negative perception of the legal system and consider themselves able to tolerate more harassment. The dissertation was an initial starting point to fill the gap of an underrepresented voice in research.