Sexual Harassment Avoidance Patterns among Female University Students

Fathy Ibrahim, Yassmin; Ramadan, Sorayia; Mohamed Fahmy, Afaf

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2024.396236

Sexual Harassment Avoidance Patterns among Female University Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ B.Sc. Faculty of Nursing science, Humanitarian Aid Worker, International Organization

² professor of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing2, Faculty of Nursing Ain Shams University/6 October University

³ Assistant Professor of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing,3,Ain Shams University

10.21608/ejhc.2024.396236

Abstract

Background: sexual harassment is unwanted or unwelcome, and which has the purpose or effect of being intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive (American psychological Association, 2016). Avoidance is the best tool to eliminate sexual harassment. Aim: was to assess sexual harassment avoidance patterns among female university students. Research question: What are the sexual harassment avoidance patterns among female university students? Study design: a descriptive study design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: this study was conducted at Faculty of Nursing and Faculty of Arts, at Ain Shams University. Subjects: Simple random sample of 367 students admitted to previously mentioned setting was recruited for conducting this study. Data collection tools: it was developed by the researcher, data was collected through an online questionnaire: (1) Socio-demographic Interview tool, (2) Sexual Harassment circumstances checklist and (3) Avoidance patterns of sexual harassment questionnaire. Results: The study revealed that approximately one third of the studied students have rarely used the sexual harassment avoidance patterns, more than two thirds of the studied students were rarely using sexual harassment avoidance patterns regarding protection and self-defense, one third of them were rarely using sexual harassment avoidance patterns regarding different social situations, while more than half of them always use sexual harassment avoidance patterns with regards to social media and technology. Conclusion: Overall, one third of the female university students have rarely used sexual harassment avoidance patterns. Most of the students would not be able to recognize threat and would not be able to use patterns to avoid sexual harassment. Recommendations: establishing programs for raising awareness about sexual harassment avoidance patterns and concepts and its different forms in educational organizations, universities, schools and activating and applying the complaint mechanism.

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