Sexual harassment at work is more common among women

Results of the Survey on Gender-Based Violence conducted by Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) in 2021 show that 11.0 % of women and 5.1 % of men aged 18–74 have experienced sexual harassment at work.

Experienced physical or sexual violence may have permanent negative influence, as, in addition to the emotional and psychological damage, harassment episodes may limit one’s social engagement. E.g., sexual harassment at work may contribute to avoiding working life activities (especially as regards occupations dominated by the other sex), thus affecting ability to earn income or leading to reduced earnings.

Almost half of women sexually harassed at work experienced it more than once

The most often sexual harassment episodes are related to inappropriate staring or leering that make one feel intimidated, indecent sexual jokes, and unsolicited physical contact, while less often – inappropriate suggestions to go out on a date, which make one feel offended, humiliated, or intimidated.

Sexual harassment at work is more common among women at the survey moment aged 18–29 – out of 15.5 % of these women, 12.6 % experienced this type of violence during last 5 years and 4.9 % during last 12 months.

Among men, sexual harassment at work mainly is related to inappropriate staring or leering that make one feel intimidated, indecent sexual jokes or offensive remarks about one’s body or private life, while less often it is unsolicited physical contact.

Sexual harassment at work is more common among men at the survey moment aged 30–44 (6.7 %), however during the last 5 years it was experienced by younger men, namely those aged 18–29 (5.0 %). In total, 3.1 % of men have experienced sexual harassment at work during the last 5 years and 1.7 % during the last 12 months. Majority of men who experienced sexual harassment at work have experienced it more than once.

Stalking experienced by each tenth woman

Stalking has been experienced by 10.2 % of women and 6.2 % of men. Stalking may be defined as frequently repeated behaviour that involves harassing someone, causing fear or concern for that person’s safety. This type of violence covers situations when someone followed or spied, tried insistently to be in touch with the victim by waiting or loitering outside home, school or workplace, or sent unwanted messages or gifts. It also covers situations when someone intentionally damages things or belongings of people victim cares about, or harms victim’s animals, makes offensive or embarrassing comments, inappropriate proposals on the internet or social networks, publishes photos, videos or highly personal information about the victim.

The largest share of stalking victims lives in Riga (13.8 % of women and 9.4 % of men), followed by urban areas (9.6 % and 6.1 %, respectively), while the smallest proportion of stalking victims may be observed in rural areas.

Both women and men more commonly are victims of male perpetrators. Among women, 7.9 % were stalked by male perpetrators and 2.0 % by female perpetrators. Young women tend to be stalking victims more commonly – 13.7 % of women at the survey moment aged 18–29 were stalked by male and 4.6 % by female perpetrators. Among men those were 3.5 % stalked by male and 2.2 % by female perpetrators. Young men tend to be stalking victims more commonly as well – 6.1 % of men at the survey moment aged 18–29 were stalked by male and 3.2 % by female perpetrators.

Stalking perpetrators usually are not intimate partners of the victim. In total 2.2 % of women and 0.6 % of men have experienced intimate partner stalking, compared to 8.2 % of women and 5.6 % of men who have experienced non-partner stalking.

Methodological information

More information on survey results is available in the collection of statistics Prevalence of Violence in Latvia 2021. It covers personal safety and experience with unwanted behaviour at work, in society, partnership, family, and childhood. The publication includes statistics for prevalence of such behaviour in Latvia – interpersonal violence (psychological, physical and sexual), sexual harassment at work, violence in childhood, stalking, and other violence-related indicators.

The Survey on Gender-Based Violence is conducted in all EU countries based on common methodology developed by Eurostat. In 2021 survey covered 6.3 thousand people aged 18–74.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666

More information on data:
Kalvis Okmanis
Social Statistics Methodology Section
E-mail: Kalvis.Okmanis@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366640