Normalized Violence: Gender and Street Sexual Harassment in Panama; Violência normalizada: gênero e assédio sexual nas ruas do Panamá; Violencia normalizada: género y acoso sexual callejero en Panamá✽

Abstract

This article explores how gender norms and hegemonic masculinity contribute to the normalization of street sexual harassment in Panama, shaping the ways women experience and navigate these encounters. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, including a literature review, a survey conducted in the metropolitan area of Panama City, and semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that street sexual harassment is a pervasive and socially accepted practice, with 75,4% of women reporting having experienced it, compared to 39,1% of men. The research underscores how entrenched norms of male dominance, control, and violence against women and feminized individuals manifest in this form of harassment, reinforcing its persistence. Men, having internalized these norms, often feel entitled to exert power over women in public spaces, perceiving them as objects of control. Furthermore, interviews indicate that victims rarely report these incidents, citing perceptions of triviality and distrust in authorities as key deterrents. The study highlights the urgent need for structural change to dismantle the power dynamics that sustain this issue. It calls for comprehensive public policies and educational programs that foster gender equality, alongside infra-structure improvements to enhance safety in public spaces.