Should Peer-Generated Sexual Harassment be Called Sexual Harassment? Views of High School Students

Abstract

The current study examined and assessed the views and feelings of high school students in Swaziland regarding sexual harassment by their peers. One hundred students (females=50%; mean age=17.6;SD= 0.5)participated in this study. A survey questionnaire and follow-up interviews were the instruments used to source data from the participants. Results indicate high incidence of sexual harassment perpetrated by both boys and girls, with more girls (38.2%) reporting sexual harassment from boys than boys (23%) from girls. However, the majority of the students (77.8%) felt that this sexual harassment was within acceptable range, arguing that it was part of their sexual development. Given these results, a major recommendation is that adults should not impose their world view and definition of sexual harassment on these youth who may see it as useful experience in their sexual development.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n8p245