The Study of Sexual Harassment Among Female Students in College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
Against this background, a study on which this research is based was embarked upon to fully examine sexual harassment prevalence among female students in the College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin. Specifically, the study had the following objectives;
- To analyze the extent to which staff and students of the College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin define and understand sexual harassment.
- To identify and examine the most valuable group about cases of sexual harassment.
- To critically analyze the divergence of views about sexual harassment cases.
- To identify and assess the institutional measures taken to avoid or curb sexual harassment.
- To identify and examine the effects of sexual harassment on female students of the College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
This section aims at critically analyzing the various prospect and challenges of studying the concept of sexual harassment. The first part focuses on the concept of sexual harassment and this is followed by challenges of studying sexual harassment and vulnerability of tertiary education students.
THE CONCEPT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The concept of sexual harassment has developed into one of the most controversial, complex and perhaps widespread human resources problems in the world (Grobler, et al, 2002). Sexual harassment is simply defined as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. The unwanted nature of the conduct distinguishes it from consensual behaviour. According to the South Africa code of good practice quoted in Grobler et al, (2002), sexual attention becomes sexual harassment.
- The behaviour is persisted in, although a single accident of harassment can constitute sexual harassment and/or.
- The recipient has made it clear that the behaviour is considered offensive, and/or
- The perpetrator should have known that the behaviour is regarded as unacceptable. In an educational environment, Chuang and Kleiner (1999) state that “sexual harassment means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other verbal, visual or physical conduct of sexual interactions, filtration, attraction or friendship which is uninvited, mutual, consensual or reciprocated”. (Nyamulani, 2006).
However, Barton and Eichelberger (1994) argue “deciding where harassment begins and ends in an admittedly difficult yet necessary by-product of this process. This point is further supported by Kleiner (2001) who point out that although the definition of sexual harassment appears straightforward at first glance, it is more complicated upon greater study”. They add, “the real challenges is how to apply to definition in the real world (because) much of the definition contains descriptions of behaviour”. By relying on descriptions of behaviour, there are several problems that emerge, namely:
- These behaviours have to be interpreted by an individual through his or her eyes and experiences.
- Individual have different sensitivity levels and interpret the same behaviour in various ways;
- Due to this individual interpretation of bahaviour, subtle forms of sexual harassment are often hard to define (Kastle and Kleiner, 2001).
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN
This research study is design is designed to look into the study of sexual harassment among female students of College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin.
POPULATION OF STUDY
The population used for this study covers all the students of College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin.
SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
The researcher used random sampling to collect a sample of total of one hundred (100) female students to obtained the necessary information required for the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
This chapter deals with the analysis and interpretation of data collected from the respondents.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
SUMMARY
The purpose of the present research study was to inform on the extent and nature of sexual harassment among students sample at College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin. The motivation for the study was based on the shortage of research investigating sexual harassment prevalence rates at institutions of higher learning in Nigeria and the African continent. The researcher is of the view that studies such as the present one advanced our understanding of sexual harassment as a phenomenon which plagues our society and impacts negatively on the lives of a great number of people. The main aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of blatant and subtle sexual harassment. In addition to this, the researcher set out to determine the degree of tolerance of subtle sexual harassment among participants, the prevalence of subtle sexual harassment within the sample, as well as the prevalence of group sexual harassment, the prevalence of the familiarity of the perpetrator and the location of the sexual harassment incidents. The prevalence of help-resource use by victims following incidents of sexual harassment and the relationship between the use of psychoactive substances and the incidents (occurrences) of sexual harassment was also studied.
Furthermore, the effects of sexual harassment on the victim, be it social, emotional and/or academic, was also ascertained. In addition to this, the relationship between the perception, tolerance and prevalence of sexual harassment among participants in the study, was investigated. Also, this study attempted to outline the different definitions of sexual harassment. An exposition of different behavioural types that reside under the umbrella name of sexual harassment, for example blatant types such as rape, attempted rape and stalking as well as a variety of subtle sexual harassment types were provided. Numerous theoretical perspectives were employed to explain the origins of sexual harassment and the effects of such harassment on victims. Attention was also paid to the factors that influence, sustain and foster the entrenchment and perpetration of sexual harassment in society. In the literature review an overview was given of the categories and types of sexual harassment. A review of the extent of sexual harassment on College campuses was provided as well as an analysis of prevalence studies conducted at African universities. In addition the focus fell on previous research on sexual harassment, College residences as focal points of sexual harassment, the effects of sexual harassment, responses to sexual harassment, effects of sexual harassment, risk factors for sexual harassment, perceptions of sexual harassment, perpetrators of sexual harassment, sex differences regarding the perpetrators of sexual harassment, sex differences in victims of sexual harassment, familiarity of perpetrators men as targets of sexual harassment, the phenomenon of same-sex sexual harassment as well as the deficiencies in previous research on sexual harassment. The research design took the form of a questionnaire that covered the time period during which the students were enrolled at College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin. The undergraduate students from the College of Education campus were invited to participate in the study. The total sample consisted of 100 students. The electronic questionnaire consisted of a total of separate questions with some containing various sub-sections. The most important Findings of the research were that a sizeable percentage of participants reported being the victim of at least one incident of stalking and that disturbingly high prevalence rates were reported for attempted rape and rape. It was also found that significant differences exist between the genders and racial groups regarding what behavioural types are perceived as constituting incidents of subtle sexual harassment. In terms of the degree of tolerance of subtle sexual harassment, significant differences were also found between the genders and the racial groups. Results of the study indicate that incidents of subtle sexual harassment were prevalent among the sample, that sexual harassment by a group of perpetrators occurs infrequently, and that victims were familiar with the perpetrators of sexual harassment in most of the cases. In terms of the location of sexual harassment, it was found that most incidents occurred on-campus and where the participants resided. The results furthermore indicate that help-resource use was relatively low among participants and that psychoactive substances contributed to the experience of a sizeable number of incidents of sexual harassment. Regarding the effects suffered following incidents of blatant and subtle sexual harassment, it was reported that a significant differences exist between the gender groups. Finally, significant correlations were demonstrated between the perception, tolerance and prevalence of subtle sexual harassment. In conclusion, the recommendations for future research as well as the limitations of the study were outlined.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following are recommendations made in relation to this study and ways to improve the quality of the study;
Sample size: A larger sample could have yielded differential results.
Length of questionnaire: The questionnaire might have been somewhat lengthy. Had it been shorter in length more students might have been willing to participate in the study.
Layout of the questionnaire: The questionnaire could have been organised in a more systematic fashion. Also, the introduction of a linking-system in order to link various sections of the questionnaire should be investigated.
Absence of formal definitions of sexual harassment: The present researcher opted not to include a formal definition for the various types of sexual harassment. Other studies have chosen to narrowly define such concepts. Both strategies have advantages and disadvantages. A comparative study of the two strategies is recommended for future research.
Time periods: The present study requested participants to only report incidents of sexual harassment that had occurred while they were enrolled students at Stellenbosch University, and only incidents that occurred on the campus (or town where the campus was located). This did not include other incidents of sexual harassment that might have occurred elsewhere and during other time periods. This could be investigated.
The scope of the research: The study focused on the prevalence of sexual harassment by collecting data pertaining to the number of victims of incidents of sexual harassment. The study was not aimed at collecting data that would inform on the nature of the sexual harassment perpetrator and/or the reasons for perpetration. Such an investigation is recommended for future research. Also, the present study was a quantitative study and therefore did not lend itself to qualitative investigations. A qualitative investigation of the experiences and/or perceptions of victims of the various types of sexual harassment were not undertaken. Certain sections of this study could be targeted for more in depth investigations.
Comparison with previous research on sexual harassment: The present study was conducted in College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin. It is recommended that studies replicating this study in its entirety or in part, be conducted at other Colleges and universities.
Other factors impacting on the research: This study did not investigate variables related to cognition, personality, age and/or emotional and cognitive maturity of the victim or perpetrator and the role that these variables might have played in mediating the effects of sexual harassment or whether these variables might have acted as precipitants or causative factors for sexual harassment. This could be investigated for future research.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion I would like to state that conducting this study was a personally enriching and rewarding experience. It is my sincere hope that this research will stimulate future research undertakings and that the findings and recommendations presented, will be purposefully applied to further our understanding of this challenging and complex phenomenon. In this regard, I also express the wish that this study will heighten overall sensitivity towards this important societal issue, and that the findings contained herein will be practicably applied for the benefit of South African society and beyond.
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