Structural inequalities and everyday harm: workplace sexual harassment and mental health in Egyptian hospitality work

Purpose Grounded in transactional stress theory, this study investigates the following research question: How do female frontline hospitality workers in Egypt's Red Sea resorts cope with the mental health challenges arising from exposure to workplace sexual harassment? Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a qualitative research design based on semi-structured interviews conducted in eight two- and three-star hotels located in the Red Sea resort areas of Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Participants were female frontline employees in customer-facing roles, primarily working in hotel reception and restaurant services. Findings The study identifies three principal coping strategies employed by female frontline employees in response to workplace sexual harassment and its associated mental health consequences. These include emotional regulation, reflected in therapeutic coping strategies and meditative practices; workplace avoidance, manifested through occupational shifts and intensified work engagement as a form of psychological escape; and cultural normalization, expressed through efforts to seek accountability and to contextualize harassment within broader societal norms. Collectively, these strategies illustrate how employees navigate and manage ongoing psychosocial harm in the absence of effective institutional support. Originality/value This study contributes to the hospitality literature by addressing a significant gap concerning the mental health implications of workplace sexual harassment among female frontline employees. Qualitative research in this area remains limited, particularly within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and broader Middle Eastern contexts. The study provides original insights into the lived experiences of women in underexplored cultural and geographical settings.