In my graduation thesis, I explored sexual harassment and violence in nightlife spaces. Upon reading the literature, I realised that it is often a woman's experience, hence why I focused my research on their experiences. In my research, I was interested in women's perceptions of sexual harassment and violence, their experiences and observations, how the phenomenon affects their sense of safety, and what factors contribute to the prevalence of sexual harassment and violence in nightlife spaces. I was also interested in their experiences of being drugged with psychoactive substances and the feelings and consequences for survivors of sexual harassment and violence, both during and after the experience. I focused, in particular, on exploring self-protection measures and prevention strategies and approaches that would contribute to a greater sense of safety in nightlife spaces. In the theoretical introduction, I defined sexual harassment and sexual violence. Then I described the factors that influence the normalisation of sexual harassment and violence in nightlife spaces and the role the use of psychoactive substances and alcohol plays in the incidence of sexual harassment and violence. I then described the consequences that experiencing sexual harassment and violence can have for survivors. In the final chapter, I focused on the prevention of sexual harassment and violence in nightlife spaces. Throughout my thesis I aimed to provide a safe and confidential space where participants in nightlife spaces can share their experiences, observations, lived experiences, and reflections on the phenomenon of sexual harassment and violence. The aim of the thesis was to open discourse and offer a reflection on the possible development of more successful practices to prevent the phenomenon. I used qualitative research methods and conducted five semi-structured interviews and a focus group to gather data. I used the interview guidelines and the focus group guidelines as a measurement instrument based on the research questions. I analysed the data qualitatively and wrote up the results. I found that sexual harassment and violence in nightlife spaces occurs frequently due to various factors and that women have a lot of experiences with this phenomenon. The expectation of sexual harassment and violence affects their sense of safety when visiting these spaces, leading them to take a range of self-protective measures. The experience, in turn, leaves survivors with emotional, psychological, and physical problems. Finally, I made suggestions for creating safer spaces with a focus on preventing sexual harassment and violence.
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