Street Harassment Experiences of Female Undergraduate Students at a State University in Zimbabwe

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VII, July 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Street Harassment Experiences of Female Undergraduate Students at a State University in Zimbabwe

Mawere D., Moyo A.

Gender Institute Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe

Abstract: – The study examined street harassment experiences of female undergraduate students at a university in Gweru, Zimbabwe. Socio-cultural and socio-control theories informed the study. The research adopted a constructivist, qualitative approach. Interviews were carried out with 18 undergraduate female students between the ages of 19 to 24 years to find out the nature of street harassment they experienced, how they responded to the harassment as well as what could be done to make them move in the city without fear of harassment. The study found out that street harassment was prevalent in public transport and in the streets. Street harassment was attributed to how female students dressed as well as a general negative attitude towards them. The street harassment issue was attributed to male domination of the public space with the intention of keeping females in a subordinate position. What emerges from this study is that street harassment is a matter of concern to the female undergraduate students who feel that their freedom of movement is restricted due to consistent and persistent street harassment by men. Reporting to police does not seem to yield any positive results. If anything it brings further harassment of the participants.There is need to induct the police into the issue of street harassment by educating and empowering them about respecting girls especially those who come to report that they have been harassed. Furthermore, the participants believe that public education is a vital piece of the battle to eliminate street harassment.

Key terms: – Street harassment; female undergraduate students; public spaces; objectification

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

Street harassment is a barrier to equal accessing of public space by women and men, girls and boys. Whilst there are a few women and girls who read street remarks as a form of compliment, these street remarks are a barrier to realizing a world in which gender is not used as an implement to define, categorize and discriminate. Most girls and women subjected to street harassment on a daily basis are affected to the extent that they do change the time they get into the public space. They also alter the number of times they get into the public space.

Read More