AN INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENT OF TERTIARY INSTITUTION
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
According to the International Labor Organization, sexual harassment in the workplace is a form of aggression against women, a violation of their human rights, and an offense incompatible with human dignity. The prevalence of sexual harassment in society has increased at an alarming rate in recent years, causing great concern among many people from all walks of life, including those in the service industry (Mengo & Black, 2016). Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual behaviors that the victim perceives as hostile, frightening, and humiliating. Physical material, the expression of sexually charged remarks and jokes, the display of pornography, or the making of unnecessary and unwelcome comments about another person are all examples. The
Many countries recognize that sexual harassment occurs and has consequences. The incident that occurred in one of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions during the first week of October, 2004 is an example of this. It was later discovered that the same group of young boys had been responsible for one of the women’s deaths, while the other people involved were hospitalized as a result of the incident (Senn, 2014).
Who is responsible for this sexual harassment incident in a tertiary institution, and could it be a single male perpetrator or a group of male academic staff members? Who might be the target of such an act when it comes to higher education institutions? Young women on their own or young men, female and male staff? The perceived consequences
The effects of sexual harassment on the victim are poorly understood. Disgust, harm to the victim’s well-being, and emotional distress are all possible outcomes of this act. All of this worried the researcher, who became interested in working along these lines and discovering a viable solution to the barberries’ actions.
1.2 Definition of the problem
Sexual harassment is a problem in and of itself, and it is one of the anti-social behaviors that causes the victim to lose self-esteem and self-worth, just as rape, which is a type of sexual harassment, does. As a result, those involved, as well as the student, may die prematurely. It may also cause psychological problems on the victim’s part. As a result of the psychological illness, the victim will have poor academic performance (Stermac, Horowitz, & Bance, 2013). Sexual harassment can also lead to stigma. A student may become stigmatized if he or she is aware that he or she has been harassed, whether sexually or otherwise, and the student or others around him or her view him or her in a way that can cause emotional disturbances to the victim if he or she is aware through another that the student or others around him or her view him or her as a victim of sexual harassment, which may hinder the student’s academic performance (Stermac, Horowitz, & Bance, 2013). As a result, avoid other students who may have
a positive impact on his or her academic performance, such as those who are the subject of an assignment, a test, or an exam, in order to avoid labeling during academic performance. It has been discovered that sexual harassment can cause post-traumatic stress disorder and cause the victim to perform poorly in school as a result of what the victim experienced when raped or in another way. It has also been discovered that sexual harassment can cause exhaustion as well as suicide, and a dead person has no time or energy to devote to his or her studies.
1.3 Purpose of the research
The study’s overarching goal is to investigate
The impact of sexual harassment on tertiary students’ academic achievement. The research will be guided by the following criteria:
To investigate the perceived causes of sexual harassment among tertiary students.
To investigate the impact of sexual harassment on academic achievement in higher education students.
To determine whether there are any obstacles to indicting perpetrators of sexual harassment in the school setting.
1.4 Question for Research
The following study questions have been prepared:
What are the perceived causes of sexual harassment among tertiary students?
What impact does sexual harassment have on students’ academic performance in higher education?
Is it difficult to indict perpetrators of sexual harassment in the school environment?
1.5 The Importance of the study
The study is important to the management board of a tertiary institution because it will reduce the occurrence of sexual harassment. It is also to avoid the negative effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder and untimely death that it may have on the victim, which may reduce an individual’s internal (Inner) motivation to carry out activities that could be beneficial to both the individual and the immediate society.
It is also necessary to have a better future when it comes to the issue of sexual act so that it is not harshly acted if legislative measures that are achievable are implemented most especially in our tertiary institution because these students will serve as parents, leaders, rulers, teachers, and so on in the future.
Through legislation enforcement in all standing tertiary institutions, all of our students will be equipped with good societal behavior.
The study will also be important to the academic community because it will add to the existing literature.
1.6 The scope of the research
The study will look into the perceived causes of sexual harassment among tertiary students. The study will also look into the impact of sexual harassment on students’ academic performance in higher education. Finally, the study will look into whether there are any difficulties in prosecuting perpetrators of sexual harassment in the school setting. As a result, this study will be restricted to Delta State University.
1.7 The study’s limitations
The researchers encountered minor constraints while conducting the study, as with any human endeavor. Insufficient
Funding tends to impede the researcher’s efficiency in sourcing relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in the data collection process (internet, questionnaire, and interview), which is why the researcher chose a moderate sample size. Furthermore, the researcher will conduct this study alongside other academic work. As a result, the time spent researching will be reduced.
1.8 Definition of the term
Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted, unsolicited, and repeated or verbal sexual advances of a sexual nature.
Academic achievement simply refers to how well or poorly a student’s input or reading and studying performed rather than practical and technical skills.
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