Men’s Disassociation From Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces in Nepal

Abstract

This study examines how men in Nepal position themselves in discussions of sexual harassment against women in public spaces, including the discursive strategies they use to disassociate themselves from the identity of perpetrators. Through in-depth interviews with men from diverse backgrounds, findings demonstrate two primary forms of disassociation: blaming women and activists for unduly exaggerating the prevalence of harassment, and attributing violence to men from different age groups, classes, or ethnic and caste backgrounds. People from higher socioeconomic status, upper-caste, and middle-age groups often used language reinforcing hierarchical structures, while men in structurally disadvantageous positions employed resistance strategies to disassociate from both harassment and privilege. Regardless of their direct involvement in harassment, these discourses enable harassment by excusing men of accountability and by preventing them from recognizing and challenging such behaviors. The strategies described also highlight the subtle ways in which violence persists not only through overt acts but also through narratives that normalize violence.