Gender differences in public perceptions of the seriousness of offline and online sexual harassment

Studies about crime seriousness have consistently shown that the public regards sexual offenses as serious. Yet, only a few studies examined public perceptions of the seriousness of sexual harassment. To fill this gap in the literature, we explored three dimensions of the public's perceptions about offline and online sexual harassment: its perceived seriousness, harmfulness, and wrongfulness. The study explored various socio-demographic factors associated with these perceptions, focusing specifically on gender differences. The data used to examine these perceptions was collected in 2023 from a representative sample of Israeli adult internet users (N = 525). The results show that in both spheres, sexual harassment is regarded as a less serious or harmful behavior, but one that is more morally wrong. The participants generally regarded online sexual harassment as less serious than offline sexual harassment. Finally, gender is a significant predictor of the perceived seriousness of both offline and online sexual harassment. Findings indicate that compared to males, females perceive both offline and online sexual harassment as more serious, more harmful, and less moral. The theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.