Essay to prsentation cards

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Hussain Alsanona

Prof.Cheryl Flanigan

ENGL 1020 2:40-4:05

Essay #4

April 14, 2015

Sexual Harassment in the Universities

Sexual harassment is an ambiguous term that scholars around the globe have tried to

define. Various scholars have tried to define it in their own terms and understandings. Some

scholars have defined it as any unwelcome conduct of sexual nature. These unwelcome conducts

of sexual nature include request for sexual favors, sexual advances, physical conduct of sexual

nature, nonverbal and verbal behaviors among others. Some scholars assert that sexual

harassment in most universities are normally experienced by both female students and the staff.

However, some researchers view sexual harassment in Universities as a social problem that cuts

across all the genders. On the same note, there are those who argue that women are the most

affected people despite the fact that both genders experiences sexual harassment in Universities.

Many proponents who argue that females are the most affected victims of sexual

harassment at University tend to advance their theory on the existence of patriarchal nature of

many societies. These theorists claim that men, many of whom subscribe to their societal beliefs

about male dominance, dominate many universities. Such dominance of most sectors by men is

attributed to the perceived superiority and the inferiority of both men and women respectively in

their institutions of learning. However, a number of scholars have confirmed through their

researches that many learning institutions are prone to sexual violence despite denials. The

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findings of a significant number of studies point to various factors such as negligence, fear and

some other negative factors as the main contributing factor to sexual violence in many

universities.

Research by the NUS between August 2009 and March 2010 used literature review and

national online survey of about 2958 women students. This research reviewed issues such as

public policy methods in fields, studies of gender violence of students in various communities

and countries such US, and attitudes towards victims of crime. The study covered women in

colleges and other learning institutions. Women between the ages of 16 -60 years from UK

universities participated. The findings showed that; more than one in seven participants reported

being victims of physical violence during their time as students. 16% have been victims of forced

kissing, molesting and touching. One in ten victims was forced to taking alcohol and other drugs

before they were sexually assaulted. Over 68% had experienced non-verbal or verbal harassment

in their institutions. Male students from the same institution were the main perpetrators of all the

harassments at 73%. The study indicates, “Students were the majority of perpetrators in most

categories, the majority of whom were studying at the same institution as the respondent.”

The reporting rate of sexual harassment was law due to lack of seriousness. The research

concluded that the relationship between the student body and the administration departments

could curb the problem of sexual harassment in the institutions of learning. Those who had

suffered sexual harassment continued to suffer even after the ordeal. The study indicates,

“Women students also commonly reported a loss of confidence and feeling increased fear as

a consequence of being a victim of violence.”

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Survey conducted by RTI International through the funding by the National Institute of

Justice studied various Sexual assaults in campuses. Its objective was to examine the nature,

prevalence and reporting any sexual assault to the various authorities. The other service-oriented

strategies were to create awareness among students on the various types of sexual assaults, how

to be safe and the right steps to take in case any of them got victimized. Last was to provide

students with the information on campus and any available resources that can assist the campus

students in case on any need. The study claims that, “the large majority of victims of sexual

assault being victimized by men they know and trust, rather than strangers.”

The date was collected through web- survey from about 6,800 undergraduate students (5,466

women and 1,375 men). The data showed that 13.7% had been victims of sexual assault. 4.7%

experienced physically sexual assaults, 7.8% women were assaulted while under voluntary drug

influence and 0.6% were assaulted while under forceful drug influence. The authors note “the

majority of sexual assaults occurring when women are incapacitated due to their use of

substances, primarily alcohol”. This study showed that sexual harassment and perpetration was

more on women than men were. It reported that reduction on the use of drugs could curb sexual

harassment in universities.

Study by Jones et al. in 2013 reveal a number of findings in New Zealand Universities.

Campus safety audit conducted by New Zealand University Students Association in the year

2012 requesting records of sexual harassments from all tertiary institutions proved futile. Here,

majority of institutions reported these harassments in single figures with the exception of Otago

polytechnic at 46 incidences and Massey university and 19 incidences. Some two major

institutions were unable to give out any records, as the information was never stored safely.

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However, the limited information gotten by this study showed the highest degree of sexual

harassment in learning institutions at New Zealand. The study found out that placing the

university’s harassment policies online could help students get access to them. For example,

researchers found out that “Locating information on a university-wide section of the website

seemed more relevant to us than having information about sexual harassment within a sub-

section of the website, such as human resources.” In the year 2000, New Zealand Human

Rights Commission conducted a study of the reported cases of sexual study from 1995—2000.

The study realized the limited information on reported sexual harassment in learning institutions.

This study indicated that less than 5% of complaints of sexual harassment were from the

education sector. The other finding was that social media was the major contributor to most

problems of sexual harassment. NHRC attributed the lack of reports to the fact that institutions

may have various channels of dealing with their problems. However, educating people on the

good use of social mode of communications such the internet can help reduce the problem of

sexual harassment. Jones et al also found out that different universities approached the issue of

information availability in varied ways. They note “AUT’s site is a good example of

accessibility. The first search result returned entitled ‘Harassment Prevention and Support’

contains the definition of harassment and logically provides a hyperlink to another relevant

page titled ‘What to do about harassment and bullying’.”

According to study conducted at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, a research sample of

about 420 students from all the faculties made some positive proofs on sexual harassment. This

research had 170 males and 250 females, at a ratio of 40.5% to 59.5% respectively, and their

total mean age was 26 years. The data for this information was done through a questionnaire,

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where each questionnaire had sections A and B. this survey used a twelve item sexual harassment

scale. The findings showed the highest level of perception of sexual harassment on all the twelve

items. On the same note, the twelve items revealed that females were the most affected people

than the males. Ekore notes, “sexual harassment is highly prevalent at the University of

Ibadan, but female students perceive it to exist more than their male counterparts.” This

research showed that female students were the main victims of sexual harassment. Likewise, it

indicated that both genders have different perceptions on what constitutes sexual harassment. On

the other hand, male respondents “felt more strongly than females that people should not be

so quick to take offense when a person expresses sexual interest in them.” In

recommendation, this research proposed that the university should develop a center where

sensitization can be done to the staff and the students as well as taking control measures on the

already existing situation.

In 2010, research was done at the Kabul University on gender based violence. Here, both

quantitative and qualitative data was collected using focus group discussions, questionnaire and

personal interviews. This survey covered a total of 200 respondents including 120 and 40 female

and male students respectively. Other respondents were 30 and 10 female and male staff

respectively. The researchers in this finding were three staffs comprising of two females and one

male. The date in this institution revealed the imbalance nature of gender within the staff

fraternity. The study indicates, “GBV (gender-based violence) is a pervasive problem in

educational institutions, and can have a devastating impact on those affected.” Inability of

the University to respond to the problems of gender-based violence was cited as a great danger to

both the staff and the students. In most cases, there were claims that females were the most

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discriminated people. Females were found to be experiencing gender based violence of sexual

nature than men among both students and the staff. 69% and 56% male and female respectively

claimed that clothes that people wore could determine the rate of gender-based violence at the

University. The study indicates “more girls are harassed than boys with considerable more

female respondents claiming that they had experienced some form of GBV while at

university, while a lower number of male respondents claimed the same.”

In conclusion, sexual harassment in many learning institutions such as universities should

be handled with care. In fact, care is highly needed from the fact that people tend to have various

grounds on what may be considered as sexual harassment. In fact, in most cases, scholars tend to

argue that females tend to view many simple circumstances and relate them to with sexual

violence that men.

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Work Cited

Ekore, John O. Gender Differences in Perception of Sexual Harassment among University

Students. Gender & Behaviour; 10(1), June 2012.

Gender Studies Institute, Kabul University. Gender Based Violence: A Study of Three

Universities in Afghanistan. With Cooperation of UNDP and UNESCO, March 2010.

Jones, Sanela S., Boocock Kate and Underhill-Sem Yvonne. Being Harassed: Accessing

information about sexual harassment in New Zealand’s universities. Women’s Studies

Journal, Vol. 27 Number 1, December 2013

NUS. Hidden Marks: A study of women students’ experiences of harassment, stalking, violence

and sexual assault. National Union of Students, 2010.

RTI International. The Campus Sexual Assault (CSA) Study. Prepared for U.S. Department of

Justice, 2007.