Graduate Student Experiences with Sexual Harassment and Academic and Social (Dis)engagement in Higher Education

Abstract

Graduate students are in a unique position where they are both university employees and students, causing a complex power differential. Experiences of harassment specific to graduate students are understudied but require attention. The present study focuses on harassment experiences of graduate students by exploring the prevalence of graduate student sexual harassment and its relation to subsequent academic and social disengagement. In this sample, 86% of participants reported experiencing some form of harassment. Sexist gender harassment was predictive of academic disengagement. Sexual coercion was predictive of both academic and social disengagement.