Sexual harassment at the workplace, based on institutions of higher learning. A case study of Kabete Technical Training Institute

Abstract

Sexual harassment is one form of sex discrimination. It refers to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature whereby:-

Submission to the conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment, academic status or progress. Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions. Conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon work or academic performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work or educational environment.

Sexual harassment is rampant in institutions of higher learning as observed in the research whereby the most commonly experienced cases are those of employee by their superiors and female students by their male lecturers. However, cases of female students harassing their male lecturers have also been reported.

The worst bit of it is that a small percentage of these cases is reported and hence most victims suffer in silence mostly due to fear of being victimized or due to lack of proper policies in place to guard against the same. Remaining silent about the vice makes the situation stay the same or get worse. Doing something about the problem may solve it.