Understanding the factors contributing to sexual harassment amongst black African university students.
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Date
2021
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Abstract
Depictions of the sexuality of female university students included themes of insecurity,
subordination, submissiveness and passivity. This study presents lived experiences of sexual
harassment among Black African university students within a socio-cultural, gender and feminist
context to understand the factors that lead to sexual harassment. Sexual harassment encounters
among female university students created a questionable background for the victim to pursue
arrangements of authority and ultimately exercise sexual power, agency and subjectivity. The
research also tried to understand the degree to which these interactions were culturally and
socially focused. Michael Foucault's concepts of sexuality and power, social constructionist
epistemology and the theory of social identity influenced the theoretical analytical support of this
research. The research implemented qualitative interpretive approaches that were in-depth
individual interviews and focus group discussions. Data analysis and interpretation was carried
out using the thematic and material analysis of Social Sciences. The study used convenient &
purposive sampling techniques and 24 participants formed this study.
In the form of graphs and emerging themes from the investigation, the study results are
discussed. Black African university students' narratives portrayed a sexually dysfunctional
context in which the perceptions of sexual abuse of the participants were reciprocity of social
cultural and individual variables. Although sexual harassment at the university was found
endemic, it was described as marginalized and underreported. A dissent from the notions of
sexual docility and passivity retained in the current literature is addressed in this review. The
study found sexual harassment as socialized in societies and societal norms for decades the
normalization is through silence and rape culture. It is important to resolve and take aggressive
and sexually abusive climates as a priority because it is a hindrance to the well-being and
wellbeing of students. The research also found the LGBTQI+ and women students as often
victims of sexual harassment by men who were more wealthy and influential than them.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.