EXAMINING THE BARRIERS TO REPORTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN UNIVERSITIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47604/ijs.1211Keywords:
Universities, non-reporting, sexual harassmentAbstract
Purpose: Universities have responded to sexual harassment by putting in place formalized reporting processes through which victims can seek redress. Despite these processes, victims seldom invoke the grievance handling mechanisms that are enshrined in university sexual harassment policies. This study therefore sought to investigate why the vice is grossly under reported. Given the asymmetrical relationship between students and faculty as well as the gendered position of female students, this study specifically focused on why female undergraduate students seldom reported faculty perpetrated sexual harassment.
Methodology: The study was carried out at a large public university in East Africa, was purely qualitative and involved 42 participants who included students, members of faculty and university administrators. The data was analyzed thematically
Findings: These indicated that institutional and social cultural barriers coupled with power asymmetries and financial inadequacy play a role in the non-reporting of sexual harassment amongst female university students.
Unique contribution to policy and practice: These findings are beneficial to universities especially as they seek to revise their existing sexual harassment policies. University managers ought to ensure that complaint handlers are well positioned to fairly handle sexual harassment complaints. This may help victims to build trust in the grievance handling mechanisms thus encouraging them to report the vice
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References
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Report on the AAU campus climate survey on sexual assault and sexual misconduct: Association of American Universities Washington, DC.
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Cochran, C. C., Frazier, P. A., & Olson, A. M. (1997). Predictors of responses to unwanted
sexual attention. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21(2), 207-226.
Cortina, L. M., & Wasti, S. A. (2005). Profiles in coping: Responses to sexual harassment across persons, organizations, and cultures. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(1), 182.
Diekmann, K. A., Walker, S. D. S., Galinsky, A. D., & Tenbrunsel, A. E. (2013). Double victimization in the workplace: Why observers condemn passive victims of sexual harassment. Organization Science, 24(2), 614-628.
Dougherty, D. (2010). Wicked Problems Defy Simple Solutions: Why Sexual Harassment PolicyDoesn't Work Marlo Goldstein Hode University of Missouri COMM 8410 December 13, 2010.
Feiring, C., & Taska, L. S. (2005). The persistence of shame following sexual abuse: A
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Fisher, B. S., & Cullen, F. T. (1999). Violence against college women: Results from a
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Foster, P. J., & Fullagar, C. J. (2018). Why don't we report sexual harassment? An application of the theory of planned behavior. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 40(3), 148-160.
Gillander GÃ¥din, K., & Stein, N. (2019). Do schools normalise sexual harassment? An analysis of a legal case regarding sexual harassment in a Swedish high school. Gender and Education, 31(7), 920-937.
Gutek, B. A., & Koss, M. P. (1993). Changed women and changed organizations: Consequences of and coping with sexual harassment. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 42(1), 28-48.
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Loschiavo, C., & Waller, J. L. (2015). The preponderance of evidence standard: Use in higher education campus conduct processes. Association of Student Conduct Administration, 1-6.
Lunenburg, F. C. (2010). Sexual harassment: An abuse of power. International Journal of Management, Business, and Administration, 13(1), 1-7.
Marshall, A. M. (2005). Idle rights: Employees' rights consciousness and the construction of sexual harassment policies. Law & Society Review, 39(1), 83-124.
Marshall, C., Dalyot, K., & Galloway, S. (2014). Sexual harassment in higher education: Re-framing the puzzle of its persistence. Journal of Policy Practice, 13(4), 276-299.
Morley, L. (2011). Sex, grades and power in higher education in Ghana and Tanzania. Cambridge Journal of Education, 41(1), 101-115.education campus conduct processes. Association of Student Conduct Administration, 1-6.
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Pinchevsky, G. M., Magnuson, A. B., Augustyn, M. B., & Rennison, C. M. (2019). Sexual victimization and sexual harassment among college students: A comparative analysis. Journal of Family Violence, 1-16.
Reese, L. A., & Lindenberg, K. E. (1997). " Victimhood" and the Implementation of Sexual
Harassment Policy. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 17(1), 37-57.
Rennison, C. M., & Rand, M. R. (2002). Criminal victimization. Washington, DC:
reporting incidents of sexual harassment. Behavior Responses to Unwanted Sexual Attention, 21 psychol. of women q. 207, 218-19 (1997)
Rozee, P. D., & Koss, M. P. (2001). Rape: A century of resistance. Psychology of
sexual harassment. Organization Science, 24(2), 614-628.
Thomas*, A. M. (2004). Politics, policies and practice: assessing the impact of sexual harassment policies in UK universities. British journal of sociology of education, 25(2), 143-160.
Townsend, B. K. (1995). Gender and Power in the Community College. New Directions for Community Colleges, Number 89. Jossey-Bass Publishers, 350 Sansome St., San Francisco, CA 94104-1342.
Van Bruggen, L. K., Runtz, M. G., & Kadlec, H. (2006). Sexual revictimization: The role of sexual self-esteem and dysfunctional sexual behaviors. Child maltreatment, 11(2), 131-145.
Vijayasiri, G. (2008). Reporting sexual harassment: The importance of organizational culture and trust. Gender Issues, 25(1), 43-61.
Weiss, K. G. (2010). Too ashamed to report: Deconstructing the shame of sexual
victimization. Feminist Criminology, 5(3), 286-310.
Wendell, S. (1990). "˜Oppression and Victimization; Choice and Responsibility.' Hypatia 5(3): 15-46.
Welsh, S., & Gruber, J. E. (1999). Not taking it any more: Women who report or file complaints of sexual harassment. Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie, 36(4), 559-583.
Zinzow, H. M., & Thompson, M. (2011). Barriers to reporting sexual victimization: Prevalence and correlates among undergraduate women. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 20(7), 711-725.
Baker, C. N. (1995). Sexual Extortion: Criminalizing Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment. Law & Ineq., 13, 213.
Cantor, D., Fisher, B., Chibnall, S. H., Townsend, R., Lee, H., Thomas, G.Westat, I. (2015).
Report on the AAU campus climate survey on sexual assault and sexual misconduct: Association of American Universities Washington, DC.
Carter, P., & Jeffs, T. (1995). Very Private Affair: Sexual Exploitation in Higher Education:
Education Now Publishing Co-operative.
Clancy, K. B., Cortina, L. M., & Kirkland, A. R. (2020). Opinion: Use science to stop sexual harassment in higher education. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(37), 22614-22618.
Cochran, C. C., Frazier, P. A., & Olson, A. M. (1997). Predictors of responses to unwanted
sexual attention. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21(2), 207-226.
Cortina, L. M., & Wasti, S. A. (2005). Profiles in coping: Responses to sexual harassment across persons, organizations, and cultures. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(1), 182.
Diekmann, K. A., Walker, S. D. S., Galinsky, A. D., & Tenbrunsel, A. E. (2013). Double victimization in the workplace: Why observers condemn passive victims of sexual harassment. Organization Science, 24(2), 614-628.
Dougherty, D. (2010). Wicked Problems Defy Simple Solutions: Why Sexual Harassment PolicyDoesn't Work Marlo Goldstein Hode University of Missouri COMM 8410 December 13, 2010.
Feiring, C., & Taska, L. S. (2005). The persistence of shame following sexual abuse: A
longitudinal look at risk and recovery. Child maltreatment, 10(4), 337-349.
Feldman-Summers, S. (2000). Analyzing anti-harassment policies and complaint procedures: Do they encourage victims to come forward. Lab. Law., 16, 307.
Fisher, B. S., & Cullen, F. T. (1999). Violence against college women: Results from a
National level study (Final report submitted to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, March 1999). Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics 259-269.
Fisher, B. S., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G. (2000). The sexual victimization of college women: Research report. Department of Justice, Washington DC. National Institute of Justice.
Foster, P. J., & Fullagar, C. J. (2018). Why don't we report sexual harassment? An application of the theory of planned behavior. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 40(3), 148-160.
Gillander GÃ¥din, K., & Stein, N. (2019). Do schools normalise sexual harassment? An analysis of a legal case regarding sexual harassment in a Swedish high school. Gender and Education, 31(7), 920-937.
Gutek, B. A., & Koss, M. P. (1993). Changed women and changed organizations: Consequences of and coping with sexual harassment. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 42(1), 28-48.
Hebert, L. C. (2007). Why Don't Reasonable Women Complain about Sexual Harassment. Ind. LJ, 82, 711.
Hertzog, J. L., Wright, D., & Beat, D. (2008). There'sa policy for that: A comparison of the organizational culture of workplaces reporting incidents of sexual harassment. Behavior and Social Issues, 17(2), 169-181.
Hill, C., & Silva, E. (2005). Drawing the line: Sexual harassment on campus. American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, 1111 Sixteenth St. NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Kihnley, J. (2000). Unraveling the ivory fabric: Institutional obstacles to the handling of sexual harassment complaints. Law & Social Inquiry, 25(1), 69-90.
Koss,M.P (1990). Changed Lives: The Psychological Impact of Sexual Harassment.. 73-92 In M. A Paludi (ed.) Ivory Tower: Sexual Harassment on Campus. Albany, NY.
Lawton, A. (2006). Between Scylla and Charybdis: The Perils of Reporting Sexual Harassment. U. Pa. J. Lab. & Emp. L., 9, 603.
Lindenberg,KE and Reese LA (1993). Implementing Sexual harassment policy. On Calling a Pig a Dog. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Public Administration, San Francisco
Loschiavo, C., & Waller, J. L. (2015). The preponderance of evidence standard: Use in higher education campus conduct processes. Association of Student Conduct Administration, 1-6.
Lunenburg, F. C. (2010). Sexual harassment: An abuse of power. International Journal of Management, Business, and Administration, 13(1), 1-7.
Marshall, A. M. (2005). Idle rights: Employees' rights consciousness and the construction of sexual harassment policies. Law & Society Review, 39(1), 83-124.
Marshall, C., Dalyot, K., & Galloway, S. (2014). Sexual harassment in higher education: Re-framing the puzzle of its persistence. Journal of Policy Practice, 13(4), 276-299.
Morley, L. (2011). Sex, grades and power in higher education in Ghana and Tanzania. Cambridge Journal of Education, 41(1), 101-115.education campus conduct processes. Association of Student Conduct Administration, 1-6.
Orchowski, L. M., Meyer, D. H., & Gidycz, C. A. (2009). College women's likelihood to report unwanted sexual experiences to campus agencies: Trends and correlates. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 18(8), 839-858.
Pinchevsky, G. M., Magnuson, A. B., Augustyn, M. B., & Rennison, C. M. (2019). Sexual victimization and sexual harassment among college students: A comparative analysis. Journal of Family Violence, 1-16.
Reese, L. A., & Lindenberg, K. E. (1997). " Victimhood" and the Implementation of Sexual
Harassment Policy. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 17(1), 37-57.
Rennison, C. M., & Rand, M. R. (2002). Criminal victimization. Washington, DC:
reporting incidents of sexual harassment. Behavior Responses to Unwanted Sexual Attention, 21 psychol. of women q. 207, 218-19 (1997)
Rozee, P. D., & Koss, M. P. (2001). Rape: A century of resistance. Psychology of
sexual harassment. Organization Science, 24(2), 614-628.
Thomas*, A. M. (2004). Politics, policies and practice: assessing the impact of sexual harassment policies in UK universities. British journal of sociology of education, 25(2), 143-160.
Townsend, B. K. (1995). Gender and Power in the Community College. New Directions for Community Colleges, Number 89. Jossey-Bass Publishers, 350 Sansome St., San Francisco, CA 94104-1342.
Van Bruggen, L. K., Runtz, M. G., & Kadlec, H. (2006). Sexual revictimization: The role of sexual self-esteem and dysfunctional sexual behaviors. Child maltreatment, 11(2), 131-145.
Vijayasiri, G. (2008). Reporting sexual harassment: The importance of organizational culture and trust. Gender Issues, 25(1), 43-61.
Weiss, K. G. (2010). Too ashamed to report: Deconstructing the shame of sexual
victimization. Feminist Criminology, 5(3), 286-310.
Wendell, S. (1990). "˜Oppression and Victimization; Choice and Responsibility.' Hypatia 5(3): 15-46.
Welsh, S., & Gruber, J. E. (1999). Not taking it any more: Women who report or file complaints of sexual harassment. Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie, 36(4), 559-583.
Zinzow, H. M., & Thompson, M. (2011). Barriers to reporting sexual victimization: Prevalence and correlates among undergraduate women. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 20(7), 711-725.
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Published
2021-01-29
How to Cite
Ssali, S., Namaganda, A., & Bisaso, R. (2021). EXAMINING THE BARRIERS TO REPORTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN UNIVERSITIES. International Journal of Sociology, 2(1), 64 – 84. https://doi.org/10.47604/ijs.1211
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