Introduction
Female sexual harassment is a global problem evident in learning institutions, sports,
malls, workplaces, and public transport. This is any form of unwanted conduct of sexual nature,
which creates an environment that’s of an intimidating, offensive, and degrading nature to the
victim. The female population experiences a variety of these behaviors including acts that are
unwanted which are not considered unlawful. These behaviors include provoking sexual
utterances in the streets, threats of rape, assault in clubs or bars, abuse on a rejection of sexual
proposals, offensive rubbing of sexual nature in public transport. These acts can go unrecognized
by those who don't experience them but they exist. Men may not understand the overwhelming
nature of this vice as women do since the female population experiences sexual harassment more
than the male. These behaviors violate female dignity and their fundamental rights which can
result in severe health and psychological, social, and even economic consequences.
Causes
The female population is more susceptible to experience sexual harassment since they in
most cases feel they lack power, confidence, or choose to suffer in silence. These may also result
due to motivation and the need for male dominance towards the female population, with the male
trying to feel superior or inability to accept rejection and feeling powerless. Ineffectiveness and
sporadic nature of campaigns addressing sexual harassment (Ide, 2011). The most common form
of sexual harassment occurs in public transport. 80% of the female population aged 12-35 years
have faced harassment in public transport, which occurs mostly in the mornings and evenings
when there is crowding especially in buses. However, unmarried students are more vulnerable.
Some factors increasing the likelihood of harassment are alcohol or drug use, a sense of low self-
esteem, dressing in clothes that increase sexual attention. Unstable laws and the absence of
properly implemented laws also alleviate this vice (Cobb, 2019).
Effects
In a study sexual harassment 89% of female students acquired psychological defects
resulting to reduced productivity, the introduction of self-doubt and self-blame, high cases of
withdrawal from educational systems, poor physical and mental health, depression, sleep
disorders a sense of insecurity in public places thus inability to enjoy public life, increased
FEMALE HARASSMENT IN PUBLIC PLACES 3
objectification of women and girls, low self-esteem and introduction of suicidal thoughts which
are severely damaging to a females career course (Ondicho et al., 2019).
Control
The damage of sexual harassment should be reflected in policy and law, the government
should also finance research so that female harassment can be explained in detail which is a
prerequisite to policy formulation regarding women’s safety in public places. There should be a
channel that allows women to report harassment complaints, there should be anti-harassment
training of the public to help in curbing female harassment and also support victims of
harassment. Criminalizing sexual harassment so that offenders are charged by the law (Refinetti,
2018).
Conclusion
Sexual harassment is prevalent in female students using public means of transport in the
mornings and evenings, which increases cases of psychological defects. This form of harassment
is inflicted mostly by an older male passenger. Thus, comprehending the causes of sexual
harassment in public places is crucial in designing prevention programs as well as offender
interventions. The government has a huge responsibility to ensure the end of sexual harassment
within its jurisdiction (Mushoriwa, 2014).
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References
Cobb, E. P. (2019). Sexual harassment laws in European countries. International Workplace
Sexual Harassment Laws and Developments for the Multinational Employer, 15-
117. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429201530-4
Ide, J. (2011). Avoiding male harassment: Wing-closing reactions to flying individuals by
female small copper butterflies. Ethology, 117(7), 630-
637. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2011.01912.x
Mushoriwa, T. (2014). Should peer-generated sexual harassment be called sexual harassment?
Views of high school students. Mediterranean Journal of Social
Sciences. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n8p245
Ondicho, N. O., Kombo, K., & Njuguna, F. W. (2019). Sexual harassment and effect on
students’ self-esteem in selected public and private secondary schools in Kenya. Journal
of Education and Practice. https://doi.org/10.7176/jep/10-21-06
Refinetti, R. (2018). Sexual harassment, sexual consent, and beyond. Sexual Harassment and
Sexual Consent, 5-17. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315129259-2