Documenting #MeToo in Public Transportation: Sexual Harassment Experiences of University Students in Los Angeles

Abstract

This study presents findings from a survey with 1,284 students at three Los Angeles area universities, exploring their experiences with sexual harassment in transit environments, and how these differ by gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. It finds that sexual harassment is a common occurrence, forcing precautionary behaviors. Nevertheless, reporting of harassment incidents is extremely low. Regression models find that certain individual characteristics of students and environmental characteristics of transit settings influence the incidence of victimization and student perceptions of safety. The study discusses multi-pronged strategies to tackle harassment in transit environments that include research, design, and policy initiatives.