The relationship between social dominance orientation and perceptions of street harassment

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to investigate the potential relationship between social dominance orientation (SDO) and the perceived frequency of street harassment, and to assess the relationship between SDO and the extent to which one perceives street harassment as being a problem. This research study also explored the relationship between demographics (gender, age, and level of education) and perceptions of street harassment. This study adopted a quantitative approach and online questionnaires were used as the primary data collection method. In total, 104 participants took part in this study, including 65 females and 39 males. The data was analysed through SPSS, and bivariate statistics were carried out to assess the relationships between variables. Results suggest that there was a significant relationship between SDO and how frequently an individual perceived street harassment, and between SDO and the degree to which one perceived street harassment as a problem. Findings also showed that perceptions of street harassment differed by gender. The results obtained are discussed in accordance with relevant literature. The study’s implications are also discussed.