Programa de formación de círculos de mujeres para la prevención del acoso sexual en estudiantes voluntarias de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. Ecuador. Septiembre 2023 – marzo 2024

Abstract

Sexual harassment is a significant matter within the context of gender violence at global and national levels, particularly in higher education institutions in Ecuador. This research aimed to implement a Training Program for Women's Circles to prevent sexual harassment among volunteer students at the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH) in Ecuador from September 2023 to March 2024. The study employed a quasi-experimental design utilizing a prospective cross-sectional approach with quantitative and qualitative methods. Women's circles were created with a small group of female students, using techniques like surveys, questionnaires, and traditional observation to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics, levels of machismo, degree of participation, and knowledge and attitudes acquired during the intervention. The findings indicated that it was possible to train a group of students interested in the prevention of sexual harassment, equipping the participants with the necessary tools and resources to address the problem within the university. In this context, the research concludes that the women's circles are an effective strategy for working on issues related to violence and harassment prevention in higher education and creating support networks through the circles to generate a significant impact on women.