The prevalence and the amount of sexual harassment in the hospitality industry in Finland
Matikainen, Essi (2021)
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021053112825
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021053112825
Tiivistelmä
In 2017, women who experienced sexual harassment gained ground in the media. The hashtag #MeToo was an indication of the harassment endured by individuals who dared to speak out. According to the 2017 equality barometer conducted in Finland, 39 percent of women and 17 percent of men had experienced sexual harassment in the last two years.
According to the same study, sexual harassment particularly impacted women under the age of 35, more than half of whom had experienced harassment. Sexual harassment is a global problem and one element on the list of others where a women’s rights and security are consistently violated. Harassment exists both in leisure time but also in the workplace. Multiple studies have been published since the #MeToo movement started. These studies have sparked a global debate on how harassment is prohibited and how it affects not only the individual but also society and working life.
The theoretical framework of this research-based thesis consists of Finnish legislation that protects employees from sexual harassment and obliges the work community and supervisors to identify and properly address various forms of harassment. The study highlights the importance of reporting on the status of the victim, and what factors contribute to the fact that inequalities do arise.
The study was executed utilizing a quantitative method which consisted of approaching the target group with a questionnaire. The target crowd was women working in the hospitality industry in Finland. Based on the results of the research, it was significant that 70% of the participants identified the forms of sexual harassment and have experienced and witnessed them during their working life. Unfortunately, it was evident that the same volume of reporting had not been done. In fact, a majority had failed to report the incident and only 19% had dared to share their experience. Those who didn’t report said they did not know to whom and how and a few others felt that the appearance would negatively affect their work.
The main finding of this research was that the hospitality field is a possible arena for sexual harassment and work to eradicate cases is still to be done. The results give personal experiences a voice and enable the reader to comprehend the topic more deeply and from a legal perspective as well.
This dissertation work began in the fall of 2020 and was completed in May 2021.
This thesis uses Harvard referencing.
According to the same study, sexual harassment particularly impacted women under the age of 35, more than half of whom had experienced harassment. Sexual harassment is a global problem and one element on the list of others where a women’s rights and security are consistently violated. Harassment exists both in leisure time but also in the workplace. Multiple studies have been published since the #MeToo movement started. These studies have sparked a global debate on how harassment is prohibited and how it affects not only the individual but also society and working life.
The theoretical framework of this research-based thesis consists of Finnish legislation that protects employees from sexual harassment and obliges the work community and supervisors to identify and properly address various forms of harassment. The study highlights the importance of reporting on the status of the victim, and what factors contribute to the fact that inequalities do arise.
The study was executed utilizing a quantitative method which consisted of approaching the target group with a questionnaire. The target crowd was women working in the hospitality industry in Finland. Based on the results of the research, it was significant that 70% of the participants identified the forms of sexual harassment and have experienced and witnessed them during their working life. Unfortunately, it was evident that the same volume of reporting had not been done. In fact, a majority had failed to report the incident and only 19% had dared to share their experience. Those who didn’t report said they did not know to whom and how and a few others felt that the appearance would negatively affect their work.
The main finding of this research was that the hospitality field is a possible arena for sexual harassment and work to eradicate cases is still to be done. The results give personal experiences a voice and enable the reader to comprehend the topic more deeply and from a legal perspective as well.
This dissertation work began in the fall of 2020 and was completed in May 2021.
This thesis uses Harvard referencing.