SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES AMONG STUDENT IN HIGHER INSTITUTE TION ,(UNIBEBN AS A CASE STUDY)

ABSTRACT

The study  adopted a Descriptive survey research design. The population for the study was all the 300 and 400 level undergraduates in the Department of Vocational and Technical Education in the 2019/2020 academic session   with a total number of four hundred and forty four while the sample for the study comprised of 100 students (68 females and 32 males) 300 and 400 level students in the Department of Vocational and Technical Education which represented 23% of the total population of the study through multistage sampling technique. A structured questionnaire titled "Influence of Sexual Harassment on Academic Performance Questionnaire" (SAHIPQ) was used for data collection. The instrument was subjected to validation by three experts, the  researcher's supervisor and two experts in the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, University of Benin, Benin-City. The Cronbach alpha method was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument. The reliability coefficient obtained from the instrument was 0.75. The  data  collected  will  be  statistically  analyzed  using  descriptive  statistics  of frequency, mean (x), and standard deviation (SD).

Consequently, the study found that the level of sexual harassment among lecturers and students in University of Benin was high owing to factors ranging from indecent dressing, poor reading habits, incessant social activities, desire by female students to occupy strategic positions in schools to mention but a few. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others: Basic training regarding sexual harassment is highly essential, the culture of silence‘, fear of reprisals and fear of being labeled by the college community (stigmatization) should be ameliorated, students and lecturers  should clearly communicate that sexual harassment will not be tolerated. They can do so by establishing an effective complaint or grievance process and taking immediate and appropriate action when an employee complains to mention but a few.