The systematic review (PRISMA) on sexual harassment (SH) in academia looks at studies conducted since 2018 with the aim to direct updated research findings toward an effective prevention perspective. The findings confirm that academia is a breeding ground for SH due to power imbalances and that vulnerabilities related to the macro-dynamics of power, social and cultural inequalities are risk factors for SH. It is recommended that SH prevention interventions in academia 1. adopt a socio-ecological perspective; 2. include evidence-based programs such as those dedicated to bystanders; 3. are integrated with each other through valuable networking and multistakeholder involvement and 4. pay attention to support complaints, victim listening and intake activities. Future SH studies should promote: SH standardized definitions, intersectional perspectives, “all targets” surveys, research on protective factors, research on perpetrator perspective. Future interventions should act at the cultural level fighting structural inequality and a greater enhancement of evidence-based programs is required.

Among the stereotypes of female delinquency, the article focuses on “bad women” par excellence, that is to say, those convicted of murder who have not benefited from the possibility of being perceived and portrayed as “victims” because of their unorthodox femininity. The aim of the study was to understand how the label of “bad woman” is incorporated into the narration of identity of five women condemned for murder; to this end, we focus on the narratives implemented in order to cope with the stigma (narrative criminology), tracing them back to their past and the traumatic experiences they lived (psychosocial criminology). Four narratives emerge: the denied stigma, the disregarded stigma, the despairing stigma and the processed stigma. Psychosocial criminology consents to “go beyond” the surface and to find a “fil rouge” that can explain the discrepancies and the contradictions found in the way of coping with the imposed label.

Gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual harassment (SH) represent phenomena of social concern that relate to issues of gender equality. This qualitative study explored responses to GBV and SH in academia in the context of the European Research Area (ERA) using the 7P Model: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Provision, Policies, Partnerships, and Prevalence. Interviews were conducted with key experts at Italian universities to identify the discrepancy between the EU policy framework and its practical implementation in the Italian context. Furthermore, it was investigated how cultural and institutional contexts influence this implementation. The results showed entrenched cultural barriers, in which a patronizing system contributes to the minimization of the problem and hinders open discussion and effective action. In addition, insufficient funding, limited expertise, and reliance on individual efforts weaken systemic initiatives. While significant progress has been made, such as the existence of dedicated services and awareness-raising programs, these measures often lack coherence and broad impact. Comprehensive and well-resourced strategies and cross-college collaboration are needed to promote sustainable change. Finally, work on capacity building, consistent application of strategies, and engagement at all academic levels is crucial to bring efforts in line with international standards.

This study aims to enrich the existing literature on prison officers by examining how various work-related variables influence their readiness to use force—an area that remains relatively underexplored. Specifically, it focuses on officers’ institutional delegitimization, their perception of insecurity at work, their professional orientation, the quality of their relationships with prisoners, and some indicators of what they feel during their work, namely perceived satisfaction, self-efficacy, and emotions. The study was conducted in Italy and involved 684 male and 130 female prison officers, who completed a questionnaire made up of 46 questions, grouped into seven dimensions. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) was employed to evaluate the robustness of a model describing the relationships among the seven dimensions in light of the collected data. The model tested was built on seven exogenous variables and six endogenous variables, with a total of 24 estimated parameters. Among the variables analyzed, institutional delegitimization was found to have the largest total effect—both directly and indirectly—on prison officers’ readiness to use force. This finding suggests that while interventions aimed at shaping officers’ attitudes toward the use of force should consider all the dimensions examined, particular emphasis should be placed on fostering an institutional environment that strengthens legitimacy.

Sexual harassment (SH) in academia constitutes a pervasive form of gender-based violence that undermines individual well-being and academic equity. While existing research has largely investigated risk factors, less attention has been paid to protective factors, coping strategies, and the cumulative burden generated by the reporting process itself. This qualitative study explores how victims of SH in Italian universities mobilize resources when disclosing their experiences informally to peers and colleagues or formally through institutional channels and how this process generates extra-fatigue: the cumulative cognitive, emotional, and practical labor victims have to perform as a direct consequence of inadequate institutional responses. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, we employed thematic and dialogical narrative analyses to examine cognitive, emotional, and behavioral coping dimensions. Findings highlight the central role of informal networks in enabling victims to recognize harassment, validate their narratives, and mobilize coping strategies. Trusted colleagues and supportive professors provided cognitive clarity, emotional relief, and practical protection. However, institutional responses were frequently perceived as inadequate or emotionally detached, reinforcing self-doubt and generating significant extra-fatigue to absorb largely alone or through informal support. Understanding extra-fatigue as structurally produced labor, rather than individual fragility, has implications for designing victim-centered institutional responses and structural reform in universities.

This article illustrates how Little Red Riding Hood has been used in a workshop conducted in prison aimed at a mixed audience of students participating in a Social Work Degree Course and detainees. First of all, it presents concepts at the core of the didactic part of the workshop. Second, the methodological path that has characterized the experiential side of the seminar is illustrated. Finally, one of the results is discussed: a version of Little Red Riding Hood written in a participatory manner by inmates and students together.