Moral and sexual harassment in Brazilian universities: accountability data over ten years (2014-2024)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54674/ess.v37i1.1033
Keywords: Sexual harassment ; moral harassment ; accountability ; public universities

Abstract

The research discussed the possible configurations of moral and sexual harassment within Brazilian federal universities, considering the procedures established by Law No. 8,112/90. The methodology was divided into two parts: (1) a bibliographic review of international and national regulations and guides provided by federal agencies to present the conceptualization of harassment; (2) empirical research, which consisted of a questionnaire sent via the Fala.BR platform to all Brazilian federal universities, aiming to map the disciplinary administrative proceedings initiated to investigate occurrences of moral and sexual harassment from 2014 to August 2024. The analysis of the responses obtained through the questionnaire indicates an increase in the initiation of disciplinary administrative proceedings to investigate harassment cases over the past decade, which may suggest that victims are now recognizing behaviors previously normalized as forms of violence. Regarding the concluded proceedings and their sanctions, it was found that dismissal is the most commonly applied penalty in cases of sexual harassment, which may indicate both that these are cases with stronger evidentiary support and that such violence is viewed as more reprehensible by the institutions. Finally, this research is expected to contribute to the consolidation of data on moral and sexual harassment within Brazilian federal universities so that the academic community can take part in building policies on their campuses.

Author Biographies

Maria Eduarda de Souza, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). Florianópolis (SC), Brazil.

Master's student in law at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and lawyer. Bachelor's degree in Law from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). Florianópolis (SC), Brazil.

Luana Renostro Heinen, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). Florianópolis (SC), Brazil.

Professor of undergraduate and graduate courses in law at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). Coordinator of SOCIODIR—Center for Studies in Sociology and Law and LITERAR—study group on law and literature. Member of the UFSC Institute of Memory and Human Rights (IMDH/UFSC). Florianópolis (SC), Brazil.

Published
2025-06-30
How to Cite
de Souza, M. E., & Renostro Heinen, L. (2025). Moral and sexual harassment in Brazilian universities: accountability data over ten years (2014-2024). Higher Education and Society Journal (ESS), 37(1), 161-180. https://doi.org/10.54674/ess.v37i1.1033
Issue
Vol 37 No 1 (2025): Gender and intersectionality at university: Inequalities, policies and transformations
Section
Articles Thematic Dossier

Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Eduarda de Souza, Luana Renostro Heinen

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