Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sports: In the Context of Turkey Sample Determination of Risk Factors in Relationship of Coaches and Female Athletes

Abstract

Today, sexual harassment is common in all areas of daily life. Numerous scientific researchers have been conducted since the rate of sexual harassment has increased day by day. Nowadays, the increase of sexual abuse and harassment in almost every area of organizational structure and field is creating a serious threat, and it has forced many managers and academics to come together. In addition to the many organizations that have experienced sexual harassment, since many years sexual harassment and abuse have increased in sport fields and in different sport branches. What is the characteristic that makes sports field an area open to sexual abuse and that differs from other social areas? The first answer that comes to mind is transparency. Sports is seen as a transparent area due to the fact that it is independent of other areas of life. That is, the sport field is not operating as a different area which emphasizes only physical performance or ability regarded as a different field. Sexual harassment and abuse are not events that happen on their own in the sport. While harassment and abuse events in many areas of society are difficult to reveal, harassment and abuse events in sports are very visible. However, this visibility is only within the community. When you ask almost every sector working in the sports field, it seems that there is a story of harassment that they have lived or heard about in the past. The aim of this study is to offer suggestions to the athletes, their families and coaches for the prevention of sexual harassment and abuse in sport in order to eliminate the negative impact on athletes who have experienced and encountered sexual harassment and abuse in Turkey.