One for the Boys'. A Phenomenological Study of Male Sexual Harassment among CAS Students

Abstract

This study looked at the UP College of Arts and Sciences male college students' perception and experiences of sexual harassment. It aimed to understand how male students define sexual harassment, identify the behaviors they consider as sexual harassment and how and why they came up with these definitions and perceptions. It also identified the commonly perceived profiles of male college students of a sexual harasser and a sexual harassment victim. Lastly, it explored how the respondents made sense of their sexually harassing experiences and how these experiences in turn affected their perception of sexual harassment per se. The researcher used a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to gather the needed information through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Phenomenology and Hegemonic Masculinity were two essential theories used in interpreting and analyzing the data. The results showed the following: there is a discrepancy between the number of students who admitted experiencing sexual harassment and their actual experiences of behaviors that are legally defined as sexual harassment; as respondents grow older they become more sensitive to sexual harassment; the victim and harasser profiles were closely related to existing traditional norms; and men can indeed experience sexual harassment done by both men and women. The principal conclusion is that power, in different forms, played a big role in sexual harassment especially since it highlighted the power incongruence between the harasser and the victim. Culture is also an important element in the dynamics of sexual harassment since it shapes traditional gender norms which are also closely related to the initiation and perpetuation of sexual harassment. Aside from the contribution to the existing body of knowledge regarding sexual harassment, this study also has practical applications. The findings can be used to have a broader understanding of the experiences of male students which can be useful in making relevant and more appropriate anti-harassment policies in the university. This could also serve as a gauge as to how efficient the current policies have been effectively implemented and whether the institution truly fosters a gender-sensitive academic environment.