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

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a form of aggression against women, a violation of their human rights, and an offense that is incompatible with human dignity, according to the International Labor Organization. The prevalence of sexual harassment in society has increased at an alarming pace in recent years, and this has caused major worry among many individuals from all walks of life, including those who work in the service industry (Mengo & Black, 2016). Sexual harassment is characterized by unwelcome sexual behaviors that are seen by the victim as creating a hostile, frightening, and humiliating atmosphere. It might include physical material, the expressing of sexually coloured remarks and jokes, the display of pornography, or the making of needless and unwelcome comments about another individual. The fact that sexual harassment happens and has consequences is recognized in many nations. This is exemplified by the incident that occurred in one of Nigeria's tertiary institutions during the first week of October, 2004. It was later discovered that the same set of young boys was responsible for one of the women's death while the other individuals involved were hospitalized as a result of the incident (Senn, 2014).

Who is involved in this act of sexual harassment in a tertiary institution, and could they be a single male perpetrator or a group of male academic staff members? When it comes to higher institutions, who may be the target of such an act? Young women alone or young lads, female and male staff? The perceived repercussions of sexual harassment on the victim are not well understood. Perhaps sentiments of disgust, harm to the victim's well-being and emotional distress are all possible consequences of this act. All of the above became a source of worry for the researcher, who got interested in working along these lines and discovering a viable answer to the barberries' actions.

1.2       Statement 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 their self-esteem and self-worth, as does rape, which is a kind of sexual harassment. As a result, individuals involved or the student may die prematurely. It may also result in psychological problem on the part of the victim, which will cause the victim to suffer from poor academic performance as a result of the psychological illness (Stermac, Horowitz, & Bance, 2013). Sexual harassment can also result in stigmatization. A student may become stigmatized if he or she is aware that he or she has been harassed either sexually or in another way 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 the other 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, withdraw from other students who might have a favorable 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 being labeled during academic performance. It has been discovered that sexual harassment can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder and that it can cause the victim to perform poorly in his or her academics as a result of what the victim has experienced when raped or in another way. It has also been discovered that sexual harassment can lead to death from exhaustion as well as suicide, and a dead person has no cotter or effort to put into his or her academics.

1.3       Objective of the study

The general objective of the study is to investigate the effect sexual harassment on the academic achievement of student of tertiary institution. Specifically, the study will be guided under the following :

To examine perceived causes of sexual harassment on student in tertiary institutions.

To find out the effect of sexual harassment on the academic achievement of students in higher institution.

To investigate if there are challenges of indicting the perpetrators of sexual harassment in the school environment.

1.4       Research Question

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

What are the  perceived causes of sexual harassment on student in tertiary institutions?

What are the effect of sexual harassment on the academic achievement of students in higher institution?

Are there challenges of indicting the perpetrators of sexual harassment in the school environment?

1.5       Significance of the study

The study is significant to the tertiary institution management board as  it will reduce, the occurrence of sexual harassment. It is also for the avoidance of the negative effect like post traumatic stress disorder, untimely death that it may have on the victim which may reduced internal (Inner) motivation of an individual to carry out activities that could be beneficial to both the individual and the immediately society.

It is also essential to have a better stay in future when it comes to the issue of sexual act so that it is not harshly acted if legislative measure that are achievable are implemented most especially in our tertiary institution since these student shall serve as parents, leaders, rulers, teacher and like in future, to make all our students be equipped with good societal behaviour through legislation enforcement in all standing tertiary institution.

The study will further be significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature.

1.6       Scope of the study

The study will examine perceived causes of sexual harassment on student in tertiary institutions. The study will also find out the effect of sexual harassment on the academic achievement of students in higher institution. Lastly, the study will investigate if there are challenges of indicting the perpetrators of sexual harassment in the school environment. Hence this study will be delimited to Delta state University.

1.7       Limitation of the study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview), which is why the researcher resorted to a moderate choice of sample size. More so, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.8       Definition of term

Sexual harassment: Is a verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, an unwanted unsolicited and repeated or verbal sexual advance.

Academic achievement: It simply means how well or badly the input or reading and studying of a student rather than practical and technical skills.

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