BY: GUGULETHU NCUBE
Gender-based violence is a phenomenon deeply rooted in gender inequality, and continues to be one of the most notable human rights violations within all societies. Gender-based violence is violence directed against a person because of their gender. Both women and men experience gender-based violence but the majority of victims are women and girls. According to the UNFPA an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime with adolescents and young people taking a 29% of sexual abuse. Tertiary students are incorporated in this figure with most of it fractured under sexual harassment.
Office of Institutional Equity, University of Michigan states that Sexual harassment is defined by law and includes requests for sexual favors, sexual advances or other sexual conduct when (1) submission is either explicitly or implicitly a condition affecting academic or employment decisions; (2) the behavior is sufficiently severe or pervasive as to create an intimidating, hostile or repugnant environment; or (3) the behavior persists despite objection by the person to whom the conduct is directed. World Health Organisation (WHO) defined sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when either:
- The acceptance or refusal of such conduct is used as the basis or a factor in decisions affecting an individual`s education, living environment, or participation in a University community.
- The conduct unreasonably impacts an individual’s academic performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for that individual’s education, living environment, or participation in a University community.
According to Students And Youth Working on reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT), statistics indicate that 50% state universities in Zimbabwe have sexual harassment policies, 45% Polytechnics have sexual harassment policies, 23% of teacher training colleges have sexual harassment policies while there is no statistics on agricultural colleges and vocational training centers.
There are two types of sexual harassment, “quid pro quo” and hostile environment. Quid pro quo (meaning “this for that”) sexual harassment occurs when it is stated or implied that an academic decision about a student depends upon whether the student submits to conduct of a sexual nature in which we now call a thigh for a mark. Quid pro quo sexual harassment also occurs when it is stated or implied that an individual must submit to conduct of a sexual nature in order to participate in a University program or activity. So, for example, if a student is made to believe that she is likely to get a Distinction in a particular module if the student goes on a date with the lecturer.
Hostile environment sexual harassment occurs when unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive learning environment or is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it affects a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from a University program or activity. While a person engaging in harassing behavior most often has some form of power or authority over the person being harassed, that is not always the case. The harasser can be a peer of the person being harassed. Sometimes the harasser is harassing a person who has power over them. For example, a student can sexually harass a faculty member.
Godwill Zulu, the peer educator’s president said, “Cases of sexual harassment are there and are a living reality here at the National University of science and technology (NUST), as students we are happy that the university is taking steps in formulating a sexual harassment policy. All this while the institution has had a harassment policy but not a sexual harassment policy. The coming in of the sexual harassment policy will help many students who are being affected to openly air out their views.”
In a sexual harassment consultant meeting held at the resource center, Nkazimulo Khumalo indicated that some of the procedures that were being required when filling a sexual harassment case were very long which have a strong possibility of the victim losing interest in pushing the case forward, this gives the perpetrator the chance to continue victimizing other students.
Khumalo said, “through consultative meetings that have been held by SAYWHAT, the institution realized the gap in the reporting pathway, the institution for the meantime has put an online reporting platform which is confidential yet effective and safe for the students to use.”
Young men have always been portrayed as perpetrators of gender-based violence in tertiary institutions with verbal abuse taking precedence. Recently things have taken are sharp turn with the young men being on the receiving end to what I would term ‘visual harassment.’ Visual harassment is when a women dresses in a manner that disrupts the mind from purpose, taking it to the imaginary world at the wrong place and time.
During the first semester at the NUST, a student came wearing a Bra and pants for a lecture which took the attention of everyone at campus. The students dress cord has been questioned a number of times and has been popularly known for revealing clothing.
Chrispen Shoko, his classmate said, “She sat right next to me, I really wanted to focus on the lecture but could not handle the temptation of looking at her now and again. If our female counter parts start bringing beach outfits to lecture rooms, we won’t understand a thing we learn. A man`s mind is distracted by what it sees, so having her next to me was rather time wasting for me as I could not concentrate on the lecture.
Some of the students at campus highlighted that such dress codes an invitation for rape for other women. People have every right to express themselves the way they feel and want to be heard but then it is equally important to think of the next person next to you on that which one intends to do, by so doing, we can be assured of a GBV free society.
The following descriptions, while not all-inclusive, will help you understand the types of behavior that are considered “conduct of a sexual nature” and that, if unwelcome, may constitute sexual harassment:
Unwanted sexual statements: Sexual or “dirty” jokes, comments on physical attributes, spreading rumors about or rating others as to sexual activity or performance, talking about one’s sexual activity in front of others and displaying or distributing sexually explicit drawings, pictures and/or written material. Unwanted sexual statements can be made in person, in writing, electronically (email, instant messaging, blogs, web pages, etc.) and otherwise.
Unwanted personal attention: Letters, telephone calls, visits, pressure for sexual favors, pressure for unnecessary personal interaction and pressure for dates where a sexual/romantic intent appears evident but remains unwanted.
Unwanted physical or sexual advances: Touching, hugging, kissing, fondling, touching oneself sexually for others to view, sexual assault, intercourse or other sexual activity. (Office of Institutional Equity, University of Michigan).
Sexual harassment is considered a direct violation of one’s rights and you can be taken to task if the case is reported to the relevant authorities. Do not be found wanting, lets stand together and boldly stand against GBV in our different communities so that wherever were we are of a sound mind.
NUST JOURNAL-ZW 