I came across an interesting study recently about sexual harassment in the workplace involving migrant and refugee women in Australia. 

This is the first national study of migrant and refugee women’s experiences, understandings and responses to workplace sexual harassment of its type. Given it is five years on from the launch of the #MeToo movement, I initially found this quite surprising.  On reflection, I realised of course that refugee and migrant women’s voices are often silent in our national societal debates.

The research found that just under half (46%) of the migrant and refugee women in this study of 700 women across Australia had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment in the workplace in the last five years in Australia. The women in this sample rarely experienced only one type of sexual harassment or reported only one incident. Men were most frequently the harassers in the workplace. Across all incident types, those in senior positions were reported as engaging in sexually harassing behaviour in the workplace most frequently, followed closely by clients.

The most frequent experiences included: indecent phone calls/messages of a sexual nature, sexually suggestive comments or jokes, intrusive questions about private life or physical appearance or staring or leering that was intimidating. These experiences are often common to all women regardless of background, but still disturbing.

The researchers delved deeper to ask why and participants believed the harassment was most often motivated because of their gender and/or sex or their race and religion. The researchers comment that they found harassment deeply connected to race and religion. Few women reported their experiences formally.

As women of a non-migrant and refugee background find their voices more, this study also helps us to understand the additional challenges of leaving your home and trying to make a new one whilst navigating cultural differences and sometimes sexual harassment. There is also a handy Fact Sheet on this study.