Presentation
Effect of body-gender transfer in virtual reality on the perception of sexual harassment
SessionVE1: Virtual Environments
Event Type
Lecture
In-Person
Virtual Environments
TimeThursday, October 7th8:30am - 9:15am EDT
LocationHarborside Salon B
DescriptionWhile sexual harassments are inappropriate behaviors in society, the interpretation of and sensitivity toward sexual harassment may be influenced by individual difference such as gender. The present work examined the effect of body-gender transfer in VR on perception of sexual harassment and explored the utility of VR in increasing one’s awareness of harassing behaviors. Participants (n=12) embodied in virtual characters and experienced harassing scenarios in an immersive virtual environment from the victim’s perspective. Participants gave higher ratings to the sensitivity toward harassing scenarios in VR than those scenarios described on paper and there was an increase in participants’ sensitivity after experiencing harassing scenarios in VR. Participants perceived higher level of sexual harassment when embodied in female avatars, which suggested an effect of body-gender transfer in VR and gender differences on perception of sexual harassment. VR may be a training method to narrow gender gap and increase awareness toward sexual harassment.