Sexual harassment is pervasive worldwide, yet there is a lack of clarity on its conceptualization in many settings, especially in low-income countries. Context-specific conceptualization of sexual harassment is vital to develop effective measurement tools, estimate its magnitude, and the design of interventions to address it. We explored how different population groups in Mwanza, Tanzania, understood, conceptualized, and experienced sexual harassment. This study employed a qualitative research design involving 74 in-depth interviews and 13 focus group discussions with participants from educational, workplace, and public settings in Mwanza, Tanzania. Participants were adolescent girls and boys, adult women and men. We explored individual-level perceptions and experiences of sexual harassment, and community norms and expectations around sexual harassment. We analyzed the data using a thematic approach. Participants’ perceptions of sexual harassment emphasized the critical role of consent, the expression of male power, and social norms with regard to sexual harassment. Sexual harassment was understood to be a result of men being in positions of power and in charge of material resources, school grades, or employment opportunities. These in turn enabled them to take advantage of girls and women. Social norms around male and female interactions, courtship and seduction, expressions of sexual interest were crucial in delineating what was and what was not considered sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is a fluid concept, and its definition is highly dependent on contextual factors. Consent underpins the conceptualization of sexual harassment and is a fundamental feature in the definition and measurement of sexual harassment in Tanzania. Consent is largely determined by sexual norms around male and female interactions and gendered power. There is a need for consensus in schools, workplaces, and communities about what constitutes sexual harassment in order to measure and address it appropriately.

性骚扰在世界范围内普遍存在，但在许多环境中，尤其是在低收入国家，对其概念的定义仍不明确。特定情境下的性骚扰概念化对于开发有效的测量工具、估计其规模以及设计解决它的干预措施至关重要。我们探讨了坦桑尼亚姆万扎的不同人群如何理解、概念化和经历性骚扰。本研究采用定性研究设计，包括 74 次深度访谈和 13 次焦点小组讨论，参与者来自坦桑尼亚姆万扎的教育、工作场所和公共场所。参与者是青春期的女孩和男孩，成年女性和男性。我们探讨了个人层面对性骚扰的看法和经历，以及关于性骚扰的社区规范和期望。我们使用主题方法分析数据。参与者对性骚扰的看法强调了同意的关键作用、男性权力的表达以及与性骚扰有关的社会规范。性骚扰被认为是男性担任权力职位并负责物质资源、学校成绩或就业机会的结果。这些反过来又使他们能够利用女孩和妇女。围绕男性和女性互动、求爱和诱惑、性兴趣表达的社会规范对于界定什么是性骚扰和什么不被视为性骚扰至关重要。性骚扰是一个流动的概念，其定义高度依赖于上下文因素。同意是性骚扰概念化的基础，也是坦桑尼亚性骚扰定义和衡量的基本特征。同意在很大程度上取决于围绕男性和女性互动和性别权力的性规范。学校、工作场所和社区需要就性骚扰的构成达成共识，以便适当地衡量和解决它。