Female nurses working in the public sector said they were sexually harassed at work but many were afraid to speak up because they could be “potentially blamed” for improper behaviour, a recent study said.

The study, titled “Sexual Harassment in the Public Service – A Case Study”, was carried out by Theresa Cilia as part of her dissertation to “explore aspects of sexual harassment in the public service.”

The nurses said the harassment took place in various ways – from the very subtle such as compliments and overfriendliness, to others that were physically invasive such as fingering.

Others were verbal and did not involve any physical contact while several were direct requests for sexual activity in exchange for money or a promotion.

The report pointed out that “occasionally sexual harassment is disguised as a part of group behaviour, such as sending pornographic e-mails to a number of colleagues under the guise of a bit of fun so that the aggressor’s targeting of an individual does not immediately stand out”.

Out of the 20 participants, 10 of which were women and 10 of which were men, nine of the women said they were sexually harassed at least once while working, while one said she had never suffered it.

Only one male nurse said he experienced sexual harassment while the remaining nine said that it never happened to them.

The women went on to explain that the harassment mainly took place during their student years.

“One female nurse said that on one occasion, when she was resting on a couch, a married male colleague went up to her and kissed her on the lips,” the report stated.

Another woman said that a colleague approached her, from behind, with the intention of touching her private parts, and two said they had been physically attacked.

However, the most common form of sexual harassment was verbal, even from patients.

The female nurses pointed out they preferred not to ask for help as “they would probably not find it, so they chose not to run the risk of letting everyone know what they had gone through”.

Furthermore, the report said, they preferred to keep it to themselves rather than “potentially be blamed for such unacceptable behaviour”. Another said that “it is not worth the trouble because the victim will be criticised rather than sympathised with.”

One nurse said that when a patient sexually harassed her, she immediately called in her male colleague, embarrassing the patient to such an extent that it did not happen again.

Another nurse said that after refusing “to accept compliments from her boss, which implied an invitation to sexual activity, he is now spreading false rumours but does not do so in her presence”.

The nurses cited several reasons why they were sexually harassed, including the stressful job and because the hospital itself has secluded places.

However, one male nurse pointed out that the “female nurses’ uniforms are quite transparent, which might conjure up sexual fantasies mainly by men”.

According to the report, most of the female nurses agreed with this statement adding that “their uniform might set off men’s fantasies”. The image of a nurse is often presented as “a sexy nurse in uniform who will attend to all their needs once they are under her care in hospital”.

Furthermore, the nurses said, close contact with people and with the patient “who will be vulnerable and take comfort from their attention, which they have to give as it is part of their job,” also might contribute to more sexual fantasies.

The respondents pointed out they feel most vulnerable to sexual harassment during night shifts and when they have time off to rest.

However, the male perception of sexual harassment is different. Several of the male respondents said that although female staff had provoked them, “they still do not consider that as sexual harassment”.

One male nurse who works in the operating theatre, pointed out that patients are given gowns “which do not cover up much of the body.” As a result, to be on the safe side, he always approaches patients with another colleague present.

The only male nurse who said he had been sexually harassed said it was verbal and took place when he was a student.

“A senior of his had involved him, unwillingly, in sexual talk in front of a student. Since he was a student he had to comply, but in reality he was afraid to confront his superior,” the report said.

One male nurse pointed out that although he had never been harassed, “he had seen his female colleagues being sexually harassed by patients’ relatives”.

According to the female respondents, the main perpetrators of sexual harassment were their own colleagues.

“A nurse explained that her senior who was harassing her, had so much power that she did not even think of reporting his conduct,” the report said.

Another female nurse said that she is suffering sexual harassment from her superior indirectly, as another nurse was granting sexual favours in order to take over her post.

“The superior is now working against the interviewee, also because she herself denied sexual favours in order to keep her post,” it added.

Once again the report highlighted a gender difference in perception of sexual harassment. Female nurses consider it sexual harassment when the patients show their private parts when there is no need to, or wear indecent clothing.

However, male nurses “do not consider this as sexual harassment as such, but rather as a funny situation and they can have a good laugh about it together”.