Portugal
Focus group analysis – Portugal
Two focus groups were conducted – one with young women (6 girls aged between 15-17) and one with young men (8 young men aged between 16-19) – in a state public school situated in Porto, with three facilitators, without the presence of teachers or other school staff. The chairs and tables were rearranged so that participants and facilitators were sat in a round circle, promoting a comfortable environment for dialogue. We started the focus groups by providing information about the informed consent, and talked about the need of commitment, respect and confidence among all in order to make the youngsters feel secure to say and disclose information on sexual harassment.
Overall, boys were more talkative about SH, while girls often diverted the conversation to other subjects that they considered relevant.
The analysis of the focus groups brought up important information about the perceptions of young people concerning SH: personal experiences (as victims and harassers); strategies of self-defense; stereotypes and conceptions about femininity, masculinity and sexuality; consequences of SH; perceptions about who are the harassers and the victims; strategies/responses to SH as victims and bystanders in public spaces and in the school; and proposals for a prevention program to combat SH in school.