“That’s Not Sexual Harassment, Is It?”: How Understandings of Sexual Harassment Impact Intervention Work

Sexual harassment (SH) is commonly categorized into gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and sexual coercion, and can be understood as part of a broader continuum of violence often experienced by women. To better understand why SH persists, this study examines how perceptions of SH influence organizational interventions, using data from the Norwegian Police Service since 2016. Findings show that behaviors such as unwanted hugging and touching—classified as gender harassment—are not always recognized as SH by those affected or by those designing interventions. Moreover, interventions often focused on individuals rather than addressing group or organizational dynamics. These results underscore the importance of contextualizing SH as a shared workplace concern and developing more holistic intervention narratives.