Abstract:

The study investigated the nature, prevalence and perceived effects of sexual harassment of girls in Thabo Mofutsanyana District secondary schools in South Africa. Secondary school girl learners are faced with the scourge of sexual harassment in school premises. The intention was to highlight the existence, nature, perpetrators of such heinous acts and the perceived effects on affected girl learners in the five local municipalities of the district. The study is informed by the feminism theory because it deals with gender discrimination. The study adopted the mixed methods design in handling data. The Sexual Experiences Survey (a standardised questionnaire) was administered to a sample of 200 girl learners in 24 district secondary schools. In-depth interviews were conducted with 5 District officials. The Sexual Experiences survey revealed the nature and the prevalence of sexual harassment while the interview data provided the study with the perceived effects of sexual harassment on girls. More data shed light on the general well-being and health of girls. The role played by principals and school governing bodies (SGB) in curbing sexual harassment in schools was highlighted during interviewed. The results confirmed that girl learners are being sexually harassed in secondary schools of the District. The study revealed that 79% of the participating girls have been sexually harassed either verbally or non – verbally. These acts are perpetrated by fellow boy learners, educators, principals and parents. The study further revealed that the well-being of the victims is negatively affected by these incidents. Principals and School Governing Bodies were found wanting regarding their roles in dealing decisively with sexual harassment in the secondary schools. An indication from the study is that the impact sexual violence has on perpetrators has an enduring effect on victims. There is an assertion that, sexual harassment sufferers have a possibility of experiencing adverse emotional health changes. As a result of these health changes the girls’ academic performance will be affected. Thus sexual harassment negatively affects the general wellbeing of victims. Girls are psychologically, physiologically and academically affected by sexual harassment at different levels depending on the nature of support they get from both the school and home. The researcher-designed model for reporting sexual harassment and abuse cases was conceptualised with view to recommending it to the Department of Education.

Keywords:

Sexual harassment, feminist theory, discrimination, gender, well-being.