ETHICAL IMPLICATION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AMONG FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS: A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF PORTHARCOURT
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Abstract
This study is an attempt to examine the ethical implication of sexual harassment among female undergraduate students on campus in university of Port Harcourt, River State. The moral fabric that holds the tertiary institutions is seriously eroded as a result of prevalence sexual harassment of female undergraduates. Four research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The researcher used “Sexual Harassment of Female Undergraduate Students Questionnaire” (SHOFUSQ) to collect information for the investigation. A sample of 300 students from the institution was randomly selected and used for the study. Questionnaires were used and the data collected was then subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. The study revealed that majority of the female students in Uniport have experienced sexual harassment (80%) and they equally indicate that lecturers and administrative staff are the leading culprits of sexual harassment. Similarly, majority of the respondents agreed that sexual harassment have social and health implications such as stigma, depression, poor academic performance, loss of esteem, contracting sexually transmitted infections, contracting HIV/AIDS, loss of womb, unwanted pregnancy and abortion, among others. The study concluded by proposing some recommendation that will eradicate sexual harassment if religious followed.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
The ethical implication of sexual harassment among female undergraduate students is one of the most depressing experience in the lives of it victims. Sexual harassment constitutes acts such as unwelcome sexual advances which can have psychological effects on female undergraduate students. The ethical implications of sexual harassment are concerned with questions of what is acceptable and unacceptable within our tertiary institutions from the perspective of female students. Sexual harassment issues has taken a different dimension since the advent of the 21st century in worship centers, workplace and even in both secondary and tertiary institutions (Lynch, 2013).
Sexual harassment is an unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favour, physical, verbal or nonverbal conducts which make submission or rejection of such conduct either in an explicit or implicit form such as threats, intimidation, taunting, unwanted touching, unwanted kissing, phonography, among others. Therefore, sexual harassment can be understood from the point of view of rejection and protest from the affected person or victim (Numhauser-Henning & Laulom, 2012). World Health Organization defines sexual harassment as any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts of traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim some time in her life (who, 1999).
Sexual harassment is a social phenomenon that is no longer confined to western countries, but Africa as a continent and Nigeria is not excluded. In Nigeria, sexual harassment has become a contemporary issue and prevalent in the Nigerian universities and it cuts across all cultures and faiths. The studies of Nwadialor and Rotimi,(2013); Okeyo (2014) and Idris, Adaja, Audu and Aye, (2016) posit that sexual harassment has become order of the day in Nigerian university campuses as a result of its level of occurrences and complaints received from mostly female victims. They also observed that the recent stories of sexual harassment coming out from the Nigerian tertiary institutions known as fortress of academic and moral excellence is not encouraging and highly disturbing due to the high rate of reported cases of sexual harassment among female students that is detrimental to the development of the Nigerian educational system politically, socially and economically (Adaja, Audu & Aye, 2016).
Sexual harassment is a topical phenomenon in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Sexual harassment of female students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria in general may not be over emphasized due to its negative consequences on the victims such as psychological pain, melancholy, stigma among others. Since the social phenomenon of sexual harassment is on the increase in most of our tertiary institutions in Nigeria, and couple with the challenges of Boko Haram insurgency that condemned the modern system of education. It is worth noting that sexual harassment is one of the challenges to sustainable economic, social and political development of the nation called Nigeria. Hence, for a meaningful sustainable development to be achieved in Nigerian education sector, harassment of female students must be approached with all seriousness. It is imperative therefore to equip female students in tertiary institutions with abundant information which will help them protect themselves against sexual harassment. Thus, this research intends to investigate the ethical implication of sexual harassment among female undergraduate students on campus in university of Port Harcourt, River State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Sexual harassment is no more a new social phenomenon in Nigerian tertiary institutions. It has become a common deviant practices in most of the tertiary institutions in Nigeria. In a recent study, it was reported that sexual harassment in education is higher in countries with weak educational systems, low levels of accountability, high level of poverty and gender inequality. It was further discovered that sexual harassment is more prevalent in institutions where educators are poorly trained, underpaid and severely under sourced (Beninger, 2013; Lynch, 2013 and Sharma, 2013). Tertiary institutions are ivory towers where academic and moral excellence are expected to be promoted. However, with the high incidence of sexual harassment of female students of tertiary institutions and its consequences on the victims, the issue of sexual harassment is likely to be a serious threat to achieving the girl child education in Nigeria. It is worth noting that sexual harassment in tertiary institutions has become the order of the day and constitute serious menace to the development of educational system in Nigeria in particular. Therefore, it is pertinent to note that sexual harassment is a threatening social phenomenon in Nigerian educational sector; which has severe psychological and social consequences on the victims as well as economic and political consequences on the nation in achieving sustainable development. Thus, it is imperative as a matter of urgency and national interest, to arrest the problem of sexual harassment of female students in tertiary institutions in River State.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The primary objective of this study is to examine ethical implication of sexual harassment among female undergraduate students on campus in university of Port Harcourt, River State. The specific objectives are:
- To investigate the prevalence, nature and social implications of sexual harassment among female students of university of Port Harcourt, River State.
- To determine the pattern and health consequences of sexual harassment among undergraduate female students in the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
- To examine what instigates the urge for sexual harassment of female undergraduate in the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
- To proffer possible remedies to the challenges of sexual harassment in Nigerian universities.
1.4 Research Questions
This study will be guided by the following research questions
- Are the perpetrators of female undergraduate student’s sexual harassment usually the male lecturers and students?
- Are there ethical implications of sexual harassment on female undergraduate students in the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State?
- What are the pattern and health consequences of sexual harassment among undergraduate female students in the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State?
- Are there laid down strategies by government to curb menace of sexual harassment of students in higher institutions in Nigeria?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The finding of this present study will enlighten both the students, lecturers and government on measures to take to avoid sexual harassment in higher institutions in Nigeria.
To the female students it will inculcate in them the habit of a modest dress sense that will keep their body covered at all times. They will also be cautioned on visiting the office of male lecturers at the appropriate time to avoid sexual harassment and they should know their right.
To the lecturers the study will remind them to caution students to refrain from visiting their offices at odd hours.
To the government the findings of the study will motivate the formulation of a zero tolerance policy towards sexual harassment in higher institutions in Nigeria.
It is conceived that the study will also be of great importance to researcher who are in need of information on similar field. Finally, the study will also be of great importance to lecturers, teacher’s students and the general public.
1.6 Scope and limitation of the study
The scope of the study shall cover ethical implication of sexual harassment among female undergraduate students on campus in University of Port Harcourt, River State. However, the study has some constrained and limitations which are:
- Availability of research material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.
- Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
- Finance: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.
1.7 Definition of terms
Implication
The conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.
Sexual harassment
It involves the making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks (typically of a woman) in a workplace or other professional or social situation.
Tertiary Education
In this study, tertiary education is defined as education received by students in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Undergraduate Students
A student in a university or college who has not received a first, esp. a bachelor’s, degree.
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