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Stifled Screams: Experiences of Sexual Harassment Survivors at First Generation Universities in Southwest Nigeria
- Boladale Mapayi, Ibidun Oloniniyi, Olakunle Oginni, Morenike Ukpong, Abigail Harrison
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 9 / Issue S1 / July 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 July 2023, p. S59
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- Article
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Aims
Sexual Harassment (SH) in colleges and universities in Nigeria is often shrouded in secrecy. Survivors rarely report the SH experience. This is often because of unequal power relations, fear of loss of status, marks, or job as retaliation, and the attendant stigma. The sexual harassment policy, implementation, and campus climate also have huge roles to play in reportage. This study aimed to investigate the experience of SH by men and women in heterosexual and same-sex situations in first-generation universities in South West Nigeria.
MethodsStudents and staff who had survived SH were targeted for IDIs focused on the experience of SH from the perspective of the survivor including the consequences, reportage, outcomes, and whether justice had been served. A purposive approach was adopted in identifying respondents and a snowballing method guided the process across the three universities. The sensitivity of the topic and the stigma attached called for a recruitment strategy that ensured privacy, confidentiality, and freedom to share experiences without reservation. About four IDIs were conducted in each university. Interviews were held on several (face-to-face via telephone or Whatsapp calls) platforms. Analysis commenced with verbatim transcription of the audio recordings. The accuracy, integrity, and completeness of all transcriptions were verified. A thematic analysis was conducted and all transcripts were coded by three experts which were organized into categories. The most prominent and salient thematic findings were brought forward by merging codes while maintaining the integrity of the individual categories. A cluster analysis of code associations was also performed to facilitate pattern recognition in the data. NVivo Pro v.12 was used to facilitate the analysis. Themes were categorized into four distinct areas: experience of SH, consequences, reportage, and outcome.
ResultsThe experience of SH ranged from sexual assault to unsolicited physical touch and verbal harassment. In terms of consequences, survivors experienced low self-esteem, had problems in their relationships with others, became less trusting, and increased risk-taking behaviour. Most survivors were not aware of anti-SH policies in their institutions. None reported to law enforcement agents due to stigma, lack of financial means, and lack of trust in the system.
ConclusionInstitutions need to do more than develop adequate antisexual harassment policies. There is a need to interrogate the culture around implementation and training to improve prevention and raise awareness.
Correlates of Sexual Harassment Among Staff and Students in First Generation South West Nigerian Universities
- Boladale Mapayi, Olakunle Oginni, Morenike Ukpong, Abigail Harrison
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 9 / Issue S1 / July 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 July 2023, pp. S59-S60
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Aims
Sexual harassment (SH) is a widespread and recurring problem in educational settings. SH is not easy to define, partly because it does not involve a homogenous set of behaviours. There are gender variations in the experience and perception of SH. Risk factors for SH include female gender and gender inequality, same-sex attraction, poverty, poorly trained, underpaid, and understaffed educators. The study aimed to determine the prevalence rates and correlates of heterosexual and same-sex SH and to explore the social and mental health sequelae of SH among students and staff of first-generation universities in South-west Nigeria.
MethodsA cross-sectional survey was done in three first-generation universities in southwest Nigeria. A sample size of 550 participants per institution was estimated with a margin of error of 2.5%, a 95% confidence level. This gave a total sample size of 1650 respondents participants for the study. In each university, Students and staff were categorized by faculties into 3 clusters: science, social science, and arts. A proportionate sampling technique was used. Participants were assessed for SH, age, sexual orientation, gender, motivation for dressing, depressive symptoms, and suicidality. Associations were tested using Pearson correlations.
ResultsSH was higher with age, among females, among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB), participants with sexual motivation for dressing, high sexual desire, high suicidality, and low perception of campus safety. In terms of gender differences, correlation with age was slightly higher in females while correlations with lesbian/gay status was higher in males. In terms of sexual orientation, correlation with age was largest in LGB, association with dressing motivation, sexual desire, and depressive symptoms scores was greatest in heterosexual participants, association with suicidality scores was greatest with lesbian/gay status; and correlation with perception of campus as safe lowest among bisexual participants. Generally, the associations were weakest among staff compared to students.
ConclusionThere are certain demographics (heterosexual and bisexual females and gay men) that appear to be more vulnerable to SH in tertiary institutions. The correlates of SH also vary in the different sample groups. These should be considered when programming for prevention and response to SH in Nigerian tertiary institutions.