Sexual Harassment and Academic Engagement of Female Students in Higher Education Institutions in Nigeria
Keywords:
Sexual Harassment, Learning Activities, Academic Engagement, Female Students
Abstract
This study explored the impact of sexual harassment (SH) on the academic engagement of female students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Nigeria. The normalisation of gender-based violence (GBV), toxic academic masculinity, a culture of silence, and a lack of active leadership were identified as key features that encourage SH in higher education and may lead to academic disengagement among female students. A qualitative case study and in-depth interview approach were employed for data collection. Students' narratives were organised for analysis of the findings. The thematic focus included: (a) SH experienced by female students, and (b) SH and academic engagement. The study revealed poor academic (cognitive, affective, and behavioural) engagement among students, which was adversely affected by SH. These included difficulties connecting with academic activities, difficulty completing assignments, problems with presentations, a reluctance to ask questions or participate in group discussions, a sense of disorientation and disturbance, fear, a loss of motivation, poor psychological feelings towards school learning, teachers and peers, and students’ inability to receive the needed assistance from the teacher to attain higher academic achievement. However, due to limited trust in the institution, the lengthy legal process, and fear of being blamed, accused, or stigmatised, legal action against the harassers was rarely pursued.
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References
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28. Mamaru, A., Mihret, M. S., & Tesfaye, M. (2015). Prevalence and correlates of sexual violence among female students in Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia. BMC Women's Health, 15(1), 1–8.
29. Morris, G. (2021). Investigating the employment motivation and job satisfaction of expatriate language teachers. Thesis (Doctoral dissertation, University of Exeter).
30. Nwaduru, C. A. (2020). Combating sexual harassment in Nigerian universities: Legal and policy approaches. Journal of Law and Social Policy, 14(1), 112–130.
31. Ojeniyi, R. & Moronkola, O.A. (2023). Occurrence and causes of Gender-based Violence among students in Colleges of Education in Ogun State, Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Public Health. (7)103–110.
32. Rospenda K. M, Richman J. A, Wislar J. S., & Flaherty J. A. (2000). Chronicity of sexual harassment and generalised work-place abuse: effects on drinking outcomes. Addiction. 95, 1805–1820. 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2000.9512180510.x.
33. Sarpong, S. A., & Osei-Tutu, E. (2014). The psychological impact of sexual harassment on female students in tertiary institutions. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 4(1), 41–47.
34. Skinner, E. A, Kindermann, T. A., & Furrer, C. J. (2009). A motivational perspective on engagement and disaffection: conceptualisation and assessment of children's behavioural and emotional participation in academic activities in the classroom. Educational Psychology Measure 69, 493–525. doi: 10.1177/0013164408323233
35. Smith, J & Thompson, B. (2019). The impact of sexual harassment on students' cognitive and affective outcomes. Journal of Educational Psychology, 111(4), 637–651.
36. Sutton, E (2021). Branching Minds. Student Engagement: Why It’s Important and How to Promote It. https://www.branchingminds.com/blog/student-engagement-remote-in-person#:~:text=Behavioral%20engagement%20 refers%20to%20students,the%20absence%20of%20disruptive%20behaviors.
37. Ugah (2023) Premium Times. Sexual harassment victims in Nigerian universities are being blamed – a cyberspace study. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/635538-sexual-harassment-victims-in-nigerian-universities-are-being-blamed-cyberspace-study.html
38. United Nations. (2002). Report of the Secretary-General on the issue of sexual harassment. https://www.un.org/sexualharassment/what-is-sexualharassment/
39. UN Women. (2013). Prohibition of discrimination, harassment, including sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. https://www.un.org/womenwatch.
40. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (n.d.). Sexual harassment. https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.cfm
41. Weiss, C. H. (1995). Nothing is as practical as good Theory: Exploring theory-based evaluation for comprehensive community initiatives for children and families. In J. Connell, A. Kubiyysch, L. Schorr & C. Weiss (Eds.), New approaches to evaluating comprehensive community initiatives (pp. 65–92). New York: The Aspen Roundtable Institute.
42. Workye H; Mekonnen Z; Wedaje W & Sitot A. (2023) Prevalence and predictors of gender-based violence among Wolkite University female students, southwest Ethiopia, 2021: Cross-sectional study. Frontier of Reproductive Health. 13;5:978808. doi: 10.3389/frph.2023.978808. PMID: 36861119; PMCID: PMC9969101.
Legal Aid Institutions. https://nigeria.action4justice.org/
2. Adetunji, A. (2020). Sexual Harassment in Nigerian Universities: Addressing the Culture of Silence. African Journal of Gender and Society, 15(2), 45–59.
3. Adimora, D.; Ngwoke, D.U; Oyeoku, E.K & Onwuka, G.T (2016) Academic Engagement and Achievement Orientation as Correlates of Reading Culture of In-School Adolescents. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 24 (4): 1214-1226, 2016. ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2016.24.04.23367.
4. African Union Commission (2017) Harassment Policy. https://africacdc.org/
5. Ajuwon, A. J., Olley, B. O., & Akin-Jimoh, I. (2011). Experience of sexual coercion among university students in Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 15(3), 123–131.
6. Athanasiades C; Stamovlasis D; Touloupis T & Charalambous H. (2023) University students' experiences of sexual harassment: the role of gender and psychological resilience. Frontier in Psychology 13;14:1202-241. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1202241. PMID: 37519384; PMCID: PMC10374299.
7. Ayenew, B. M. & Gebremeskal, T. G. (2014). Sexual Harassment, Self-Esteem and Academic Engagement as Predictors of Academic Success of Female Secondary School Students. Science, technology and arts research, 08, 3 (2), .229, Nekemete: Wollega University
8. Bennett, J. (2009). Policies and sexual harassment in higher education institutions. Feminist Africa, 13, 83–98.
9. Blakers R. (2022). The Conversation. Academic Rigour, Journalistic flair. https://theconversation.com/1-in-3-uni-students-have-been-sexually-assaulted-in-their-lifetime-they-demand-action-on-their-vision-of-a-safer-society-179367.
10. Berdahl, J. L. & Moore, C. (2007). Harassment and discrimination in organisations: Understanding the role of power. Journal of Social Issues, 63(1), 1-18.
11. Bloom, B. S. (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals. David McKay.
12. Bondestam F. & Lundqvist M. (2020). Sexual harassment in higher education–a systematic review. European Journal of Higher Education 10, 397–419. 10.1080/21568235.2020.1729833
13. Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
14. Buchanan N. T.; Bergman M. E; Bruce T. A; Woods K. C & Lichty L. L. (2009). Unique and joint effects of sexual and racial harassment on college students' well-being. Basic Appl. Soc. Psychol. 31, 267–285. 10.1080/01973530903058532
15. Campbell, R., Dworkin, E., & Cabral, G. (2009). An ecological model of the impact of sexual assault on women’s mental health. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 10(3), 225–246.
16. Dörnyei, Z., & Ushioda, E. (2010). Teaching and researching: Motivation. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.
17. Duff, P. (2007). Case study Research in applied linguistics. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
18. Fawole, O. I., Ajuwon, A. J., & Osungbade, K. O. (2002). Violence and sexual coercion among in-school adolescents in South Western Nigeria. Health and Population Nutrition, 20(4), 356–360.
19. Fitzgerald, L. F; Gelfand, M. J & Drasgow, F. (1995). Measuring sexual harassment: Theoretical and psychometric developments. Psychological Bulletin, 117(1), 29-50.
20. Fitzgerald, L. F & Richman, J. A. (2019). Sexual harassment and its impact on problem-solving and critical thinking. Journal of Social Psychology, 159(3), 299-313.
21. Hennink, M. M. (2014). Focus Group Discussions. Oxford University Press.
22. Hoel H & Vartia M. (2018). Bullying and sexual harassment at the workplace, in public spaces, and in political life in the EU. European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/ RegData/etudes/STUD/2018/604949/ IPOL_STU(2018)604949_EN.pdf
23. Kamal, Y., & Tariq, R. (2020). Impact of sexual harassment on academic performance and psychological well-being of female university students. Pakistan Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 18(1), 31–36.
24. Kitzinger, J. (1995)."Qualitative Research: Introducing Focus Groups." BMJ, 311(7000), 299-302.
25. Konlan, K.D & Dangah, M.M (2023). Students’ experiences of sexual harassment: a descriptive cross-sectional study in a college of education, Ghana. Heliyon. 9(4): e14764.doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14764.
26. Konlan, K. D., & Dangah, J. E. (2023). Sexual harassment and academic engagement: Institutional responses and gaps in higher education. Journal of Gender and Education, 45(1), 34–52.
27. Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer.
28. Mamaru, A., Mihret, M. S., & Tesfaye, M. (2015). Prevalence and correlates of sexual violence among female students in Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia. BMC Women's Health, 15(1), 1–8.
29. Morris, G. (2021). Investigating the employment motivation and job satisfaction of expatriate language teachers. Thesis (Doctoral dissertation, University of Exeter).
30. Nwaduru, C. A. (2020). Combating sexual harassment in Nigerian universities: Legal and policy approaches. Journal of Law and Social Policy, 14(1), 112–130.
31. Ojeniyi, R. & Moronkola, O.A. (2023). Occurrence and causes of Gender-based Violence among students in Colleges of Education in Ogun State, Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Public Health. (7)103–110.
32. Rospenda K. M, Richman J. A, Wislar J. S., & Flaherty J. A. (2000). Chronicity of sexual harassment and generalised work-place abuse: effects on drinking outcomes. Addiction. 95, 1805–1820. 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2000.9512180510.x.
33. Sarpong, S. A., & Osei-Tutu, E. (2014). The psychological impact of sexual harassment on female students in tertiary institutions. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 4(1), 41–47.
34. Skinner, E. A, Kindermann, T. A., & Furrer, C. J. (2009). A motivational perspective on engagement and disaffection: conceptualisation and assessment of children's behavioural and emotional participation in academic activities in the classroom. Educational Psychology Measure 69, 493–525. doi: 10.1177/0013164408323233
35. Smith, J & Thompson, B. (2019). The impact of sexual harassment on students' cognitive and affective outcomes. Journal of Educational Psychology, 111(4), 637–651.
36. Sutton, E (2021). Branching Minds. Student Engagement: Why It’s Important and How to Promote It. https://www.branchingminds.com/blog/student-engagement-remote-in-person#:~:text=Behavioral%20engagement%20 refers%20to%20students,the%20absence%20of%20disruptive%20behaviors.
37. Ugah (2023) Premium Times. Sexual harassment victims in Nigerian universities are being blamed – a cyberspace study. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/635538-sexual-harassment-victims-in-nigerian-universities-are-being-blamed-cyberspace-study.html
38. United Nations. (2002). Report of the Secretary-General on the issue of sexual harassment. https://www.un.org/sexualharassment/what-is-sexualharassment/
39. UN Women. (2013). Prohibition of discrimination, harassment, including sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. https://www.un.org/womenwatch.
40. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (n.d.). Sexual harassment. https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.cfm
41. Weiss, C. H. (1995). Nothing is as practical as good Theory: Exploring theory-based evaluation for comprehensive community initiatives for children and families. In J. Connell, A. Kubiyysch, L. Schorr & C. Weiss (Eds.), New approaches to evaluating comprehensive community initiatives (pp. 65–92). New York: The Aspen Roundtable Institute.
42. Workye H; Mekonnen Z; Wedaje W & Sitot A. (2023) Prevalence and predictors of gender-based violence among Wolkite University female students, southwest Ethiopia, 2021: Cross-sectional study. Frontier of Reproductive Health. 13;5:978808. doi: 10.3389/frph.2023.978808. PMID: 36861119; PMCID: PMC9969101.
Published
2026-04-15
How to Cite
Adimora, D. E., & Adimora, J.-F. C. (2026). Sexual Harassment and Academic Engagement of Female Students in Higher Education Institutions in Nigeria. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 52, 472. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/20905
Section
ESI Preprints
Copyright (c) 2026 Dorothy Ebere Adimora, Jane-Frances Chinenye Adimora
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
