Gendered Understanding and Experiences of Sexual Harassment: Informing a Policy Framework for Higher Education Institutions

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Sexual harassment policies in South African higher education institutions show variations in focus and content. In this study, we set out to determine students’ understandings and experiences of sexual harassment with the broader aim of informing a framework that higher education institutions could use to strengthen their sexual harassment policies. A total of 640 (of a potential 2 222) students completed an online survey that, among other things, incorporated the Sexual Experience Questionnaire. Non-parametric procedures were used to identify significant gender differences and effect sizes in students’ understandings and experiences of sexual harassment. More female students experienced some form of sexual harassment, and they were more likely to recognise different types of verbal sexual harassment (possibly because they present a broader definition of harassment). The female students appeared less tolerant of harassment behaviour, but they were significantly more hesitant to report sexual harassment than the male students. In addition, the female students were less likely to consider themselves familiar with the guidelines on reporting incidents of sexual harassment and they were more likely to feel that perpetrators get away with harassment behaviour than the male students. Both male and female students indicated that sexual harassment is more likely to occur between student groups than between students and lecturers. The male and female students expressed strong support for the proposed policy components, including defining sexual harassment, procedures for reporting and disciplinary sanctions for sexual harassment.