Underlying causes of Sexual Harassment in Institutions of Higher Learning in Uganda: Responses from Kyambogo University

Keywords: Key words: Kyambogo University, Institutions of Higher Learning, Sexual harassment, Uganda.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This study used the social exchange theory and sexuality to investigate the underlying causes of sexual harassment in Institutions of Higher Learning in Uganda, with responses from Kyambogo University (KyU). Data were collected from internal and external stakeholder consultative meetings and workshops and the literature review. External participants were purposively selected from representatives of the Ministry of Education and Sports, public universities and non-governmental organizations, while internal participants were drawn from student leaders and university managers.  Three meetings and two workshops were conducted with 390 participants (214 females and 179 males). The study provides evidence of sexual harassment (SH) at KyU.  The underlying causes were limited awareness of SH among university stakeholders, students' background, poverty and a culture of silence. There is need to embark on a programme of building a safe and positive learning environment, supported by continuous sensitization and informed by an in-depth multi-stakeholder study on the status of SH at the University

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

H. Kebirungi, Kyambogo University, Uganda

Development Studies

References

Aguilar, S. J. and C. Baek. 2020. “Sexual harassment in academia is underreported, especially by students in the life and physical sciences.” PloS one 15(3): e0230312.

Bondestam, F. and M. Lundqvist. 2020. “Sexual harassment in higher education – a systematic review.” European Journal of Higher Education 10(4): 397‒419.

Dogar, A. A. 2021. “Perception, Prevalence and Awareness of Sexual Harassment among University Students in Abbottabad.” Psychology and Education Journal 58(1): 1182‒1195.

Gillander, Gådin K. and N. Stein. 2019. “Do schools normalize sexual harassment? An analysis of a legal case regarding sexual harassment in a Swedish high school.” Gender and Education 31(7): 920‒937.

Harding, T. and D. Whitehead. 2013. “Analysing data in qualitative research.” Nursing & midwifery research: Methods and appraisal for evidence-based practice, 141‒160.

Kirkner, A. C., K. Lorenz, and L. Mazar. 2020. “Faculty and staff reporting and disclosure of sexual harassment in higher education.” Gender and Education, 1‒17. DOI: 10.1080/ 09540253.2020.176392:

Lawrence, K. A and E. S. Byers. 1995. “Sexual satisfaction in long‐term heterosexual relationships: The interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction.” Personal Relationships 2(4): 267‒285.

Magaji, A. B., J. E. Ikhide, A. T. Timur, and S. Timur. 2019. “Sexual Harassment in Higher Education: Students’ Perceptions and Attitudes.” In Global Joint Conference on Industrial Engineering and Its Application Areas, 40‒50. Springer, Cham.

Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports. 2015‒2020. National Strategic Plan. Elimination of Violence Against Children in Schools. Kampala.

Ministry of Education and Sports. 2012. Study on Assessing child protection, safety and security issues for children in Ugandan primary and secondary schools, 2012; Chapter 2 on study findings; section 2.3 on sexual violence. (Ministry of Education: Kampala).

MOESTS see Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports.

Murray, L. K., A. Nguyen, and J. A. Cohen. 2014. Child sexual abuse. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics 23(2): 321‒337.

Ondicho, N., K. Kombo, and F. Njuguna. 2019. Sexual Harassment and its Effect on Students’ Self-Esteem in Selected Public and Private Secondary Schools in Kenya. Journal of Education and Practice 10(21): 44‒53

Rusbult, C. E. 1980. “Commitment and satisfaction in romantic associations: A test of the investment model.” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 16(2): 172‒186.

Rusbult, C. E.1983. “A longitudinal test of the investment model: The development (and deterioration) of satisfaction and commitment in heterosexual involvements.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 45(1): 101-117.

Smith, C. P. and J. J. Freyd. 2014. “Institutional betrayal.” American Psychologist 69(6): 575.

Sprecher, S. 1998. “Social exchange theories and sexuality.” Journal of Sex Research 35(1): 32‒43.

Sundaram, V. and C. Jackson. 2018. “‘Monstrous men’ and ‘sex scandals’: The myth of exceptional deviance in sexual harassment and violence in education.” Palgrave Communications 4(1): 1‒5.

UNICEF. 2015. Ending Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy in Uganda: A Formative Research to Guide the Implementation of the National Strategy on Ending Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy in Uganda. Final Report, Uganda.

Walster, E., G. W. Walster, and E. Berscheid. 1978. Equity: Theory and Research, Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Published
2021-10-31
How to Cite
Kebirungi, H. 2021. “Underlying Causes of Sexual Harassment in Institutions of Higher Learning in Uganda: Responses from Kyambogo University”. South African Journal of Higher Education 35 (5), 65-77. https://doi.org/10.20853/35-5-4616.
Section
General Articles