Experience of Sexual Harassment at Work by Female Employees in a Nigerian Work Environment

Abstract

Among the prominent issues bothering on the work experience of female employees is that of sexual harassment at work. This paper is an empirical study on this issue. The study seeks to uncover perceived experience of sexual harassment among female employees in a Nigerian work setting. Questionnaire was the main research instrument adopted to gather important data for the study. It found that majority of the respondents have experienced sexual harassment of one kind or the other usually from their male superiors. Socio-cultural factors dictated their varying responses ranging from concealment due to fear of shame to ignorance of channel of legal redress. Suggestions are made towards improving enlightenment campaign to female workers on their rights to legal redress if they were sexually harassed by their male boss, the formation of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) to protect rights of female workers and the active involvement of trade unions in efforts meant to reduce the incidence of sexual harassment at the workplace. Key words: Female workers, gender Inequality, patriarchy, sexual harassment, society.