Sexual harassment remains a widespread problem that occurs across multiple contexts such as educational institutions, workplaces and public life. It includes unwanted comments, physical advances or behaviours that create a hostile or intimidating environment. While some might dismiss piropos – sexist catcalls or flirtatious remarks – as harmless, they often contribute to a culture that trivialises or excuses more serious forms of harassment. Unfortunately, many people still accept myths about sexual harassment, such as the belief that victims are somehow responsible for what happens to them, or that certain behaviours are ‘not that serious’.
A persistent problem
In recent years, Spain has become a focal point in the global conversation about gender-based violence. From the international impact of the #MeToo movement to the powerful local response of #SeAcabó, public awareness around sexual harassment and assault has surged. These conversations have pushed issues once confined to private spheres into the national spotlight, revealing patterns of abuse not only in high-profile institutions like sports federations but also in universities and academic settings.
The #SeAcabó movement gained widespread momentum after the highly publicised incident involving Luis Rubiales, then president of the Spanish Football Federation, who gave an unsolicited and non-consensual kiss to footballer Jenni Hermoso during the Women’s World Cup medal ceremony. The public backlash was swift and intense, signalling a collective demand for accountability and cultural change, calling for concrete action to combat gender violence in all its forms.
At the same time, there is growing public understanding of DARVO tactics – a defensive strategy where perpetrators Deny, Attack and Reverse the roles of Victim and Offender. These manipulative responses are often used to silence victims and discredit their experiences, highlighting the urgent need for education that empowers both survivors and bystanders to recognise and resist such behaviour.
Adding to this national reckoning, Spain’s government has taken legislative action with the introduction of the ‘Only yes is yes’ law (La ley del ‘solo sí es sí’; Ley Orgánica 10/2022, de garantía integral de la libertad sexual). This groundbreaking but controversial reform redefines sexual consent as the key element in sexual assault cases, eliminating the previous legal distinction between abuse and assault. While the law has sparked debate, it also represents a significant step toward centring the rights and voices of survivors.
This landmark legislation represents a major cultural and legal shift, positioning Spain at the forefront of feminist legal reform in Europe. However, like many bold changes, it has also sparked backlash, confusion and heated debate. In this context, conversations about prevention have become more urgent than ever.
Effectiveness of a brief training intervention
That’s where a new study from researchers at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) steps in with a promising message: Yes, we can make a difference – and it doesn’t take much to start.
Researchers at the UIB set out to test a simple idea: Could a short, in-person training session reduce harmful beliefs about sexual harassment and encourage students to reject everyday sexism? The answer, it turns out, is yes.
The study involved Spanish university students who completed a survey before and after participating in the training. The session aimed to:
- Debunk widespread myths about sexual harassment – for example, that victims often lie or that some behaviours aren’t serious enough to count.
- Raise awareness about piropo culture – the all-too-common sexist remarks disguised as compliments.
After the training, students showed a significant decrease in acceptance of sexual harassment myths and a stronger rejection of piropos. In other words, they were more likely to recognise and oppose inappropriate behaviour, both the overt and the subtle kind that often flies under the radar.
Interestingly, the study also found that male participants showed a more marked rejection of piropos than female participants. This suggests that training can be especially effective in reaching groups who might not previously have recognised certain behaviour as problematic. And that matters, because preventing harassment requires everyone, not just potential victims, to recognise and challenge inappropriate conduct.
Toward safer campuses – and a safer society
The study’s title – ‘Yes, we can make a difference’ – is more than just an optimistic message. It reflects a powerful reality: When research and education work hand in hand, meaningful change is possible. The study at the UIB adds an important element to the broader conversation about how we can effectively prevent sexual harassment. Its key message is simple yet impactful: Education works.
By equipping students with tools to question harmful social norms and encouraging them to speak out, even a brief training session can spark real shifts in attitude. When individuals are given space to reflect, learn and discuss, they begin to recognise the subtle – and not-so-subtle – ways in which gender-based violence is perpetuated. And when those conversations happen in the classroom, in student organisations, or even informally among peers, they create the foundation for lasting cultural change.
These findings are especially relevant in light of broader research that highlights the global scale of the problem. The European UniSAFE project, for example, surveyed more than 42,000 people across 46 universities and research institutions in 15 countries. It found that 62 per cent had experienced some form of gender-based violence during their time in academia, and 31 per cent reported incidents of sexual harassment. These numbers are striking – but they likely represent only part of the picture. Many cases go unreported, either due to fear of retaliation or because certain behaviour has been normalised.
All of these points to one clear conclusion: changing attitudes starts with knowledge, and knowledge begins with conversations. A single training session won’t solve the problem overnight, but it can open a door. It can challenge silence, spark dialogue and empower students to become active participants in creating safer learning environments.
Let’s make sure that conversation doesn’t stop. Let it continue in classrooms, in faculty meetings, on student panels and in every corner of campus life – because that’s where real change begins.
Silvia Ortiz-Bonnin is Assistant Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB).
Joanna Blahopoulou is Associate Lecturer of the Department of Psychology at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB).
Yes, we can make a difference: evaluating the effectiveness of a brief training intervention for preventing sexual harassment in higher education by Joanna Blahopoulou, Victoria A. Ferrer-Pérez, Esperanza Bosch-Fiol and Silvia Ortiz-Bonnin from the Journal of Gender-Based Violence is available on Bristol University Press Digital.
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