Sexual Harassment, Abuse and Healing in East Africa.

Sexual harassment is a serious problem in East Africa. Sexual harassment can occur where one person uses a position of authority to compel another person to engage in an otherwise unwanted sexual activity. Sexual harassment leaves inner wounds in a person that affect negatively their psychological and spiritual lives. In the context of Africa, often it is women who are the targets of sexual harassment but not always. This paper addresses one of the most pernicious violations of that trust. Not only in East Africa, but globally, children are traumatized by sexual abuse, harassment, and discriminatory behaviour at the hands of those on whom they rely for their well-being. In my ministry of teaching, giving motivational seminars and advising secondary school girls and boys in academic issues and in their process of growth through adolescent period, I personally have come across many similar cases. It provoked me to think about the problem. Therefore, in this paper I intend to address some of the issues of sexual harassment, give a brief explanation of what these experiences are, bring to awareness some of the causes, explore their impact on growth and development and propose some ways of enabling such victims to seek healing and integration

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Diet quality and well-being in children and adolescents: the UP&DOWN longitudinal study

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114518003070 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 121 (2) ◽

pp. 221-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Laura Esteban-Gonzalo ◽

Anne I. Turner ◽

Susan J. Torres ◽

Irene Esteban-Cornejo ◽

José Castro-Piñero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary School ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Primary School ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Down's Syndrome ◽

Down’S Syndrome ◽

Well Being ◽

School Girls

AbstractThe present study examined the association between high-quality diet (using the Mediterranean diet (MD) as an example) and well-being cross-sectionally and prospectively in Spanish children and adolescents. Participants included 533 children and 987 adolescents at baseline and 527 children and 798 adolescents at 2-year follow-up, included in the UP&DOWN study (follow-up in schoolchildren and adolescents with and without Down’s syndrome). The present study excluded participants with Down’s syndrome. Adherence to an MD was assessed using the KIDMED index. Well-being was measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire. Associations between MD adherence and well-being were assessed using multi-level, mixed-effects linear regression. At baseline, MD adherence was positively related to health-related quality of life in secondary school girls and boys (β=0·41,se0·10,P<0·001;β=0·46,se0·10,P<0·001, respectively) and to positive affect in secondary school girls and boys (β=0·16,se0·05,P=0·006;β=0·20,se0·05,P<0·001, respectively) and in primary school boys (β=0·20,se0·08,P=0·019). At 2-year follow-up, MD adherence was negatively related to negative affect in secondary school adolescent girls and boys (β=–0·15,se0·07,P=0·047;β=–0·16,se0·06,P=0·019, respectively), and MD adherence was associated with higher positive affect scores in secondary school girls (β=0·30,se0·06,P<0·001) and in primary school boys (β=0·20,se0·09,P=0·023). However, MD adherence at baseline did not predict well-being indicators at 2-year follow-up. In conclusion, higher MD adherence was found to behave as a protective factor for positive well-being in cross-sectional analysis.

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Childhood Maltreatment History as a Risk Factor for Sexual Harassment Among U.S. Army Soldiers

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.13.3.269 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 269-286 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Leora N. Rosen ◽

Lee Martin

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽

Sexual Harassment ◽

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Emotional Abuse ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Sexual Experiences ◽

Unwanted Sexual Experiences ◽

Physical Neglect

Four different types of childhood maltreatment were examined as predictors of unwanted sexual experiences and acknowledged sexual harassment among male and female active duty soldiers in the United States Army. Predictor variables included childhood sexual abuse, physical-emotional abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect. Three types of unwanted sexual experiences in the workplace were examined as outcome variables: gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and coercion. Both sexual and physical-emotional abuse during childhood were found to be predictors of unwanted sexual experiences and of acknowledged sexual harassment in the workplace. Among female soldiers, the most severe type of unwanted experience—coercion—was predicted only by childhood physical-emotional abuse. Among male soldiers childhood sexual abuse was the strongest predictor of coercion. A greater variety of types of childhood maltreatment predicted sexual harassment outcomes for male soldiers. Childhood maltreatment and adult sexual harassment were predictors of psychological well-being for soldiers of both genders.

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The Predictors of Awareness of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence in the Media and the Influence on Actions of the Individuals

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.789144 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Engie Frentzen ◽

Doris Reisacher ◽

Elmar Brähler ◽

Miriam Rassenhofer ◽

Jörg M. Fegert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Sexual Harassment ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Well Being ◽

The Internet ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Different Types ◽

The Media

Introduction: The number of reportings on sexual abuse (SA), sexual violence (SV) cases covered in the media has risen a significant amount with most cases involving women and children. The aim of the study is to explore the questions: Are people aware of sexual abuse and sexual violence in the media? What are the predictors of awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence? Does the awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence in the media affect the actions of the individuals?Methods: A representative survey of the German-speaking resident population (2020) on physical and mental well-being was used. The participants (N = 2,503: females = 50.9%) were between the ages of 14 and 97 (M = 49.81). The German version of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, The General Habitual Well-Being Questionnaire and questions about own experiences of sexual harassment on the internet, experiences of domestic sexual abuse and different socio-economic variables were used. The outcome variables regarding the awareness of SA and SV in the media, different types of scandals (church, pedophile, USA), #MeToo-debate and the change in actions were used. Frequency analyses and binary regressions were conducted.Results: One thousand five hundred and fifty-five (62.6%) respondents answered yes to being aware of SA and SV in the media. The results show that females, aging, number of children in household, Protestant and Catholic religion, school graduation, own experience(s) of sexual harassment on the internet, own experience(s) of SA in childhood, and Adverse Childhood Experiences have a significant higher association to the awareness of SA and SV in the media. German nationality and Muslim religion have a significant lower association. The variables that most commonly affected the awareness of SA and SV, scandals, debate and the individual actions were age, own experiences of sexual harassment on the internet and the Protestant religion.Conclusion: Advertising more support centers, hotlines and linking this information to sexual abuse cases covered in the media should be considered. Media bystander interventions could be helpful to train people to react appropriately. Further investigation that considers the different types of media and its influence on the awareness of SA and SV is needed.

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Etiological Factors and Theories of Sexual Abuse

Advances in Psychology, Mental Health, and Behavioral Studies - Social, Psychological, and Forensic Perspectives on Sexual Abuse ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-3958-2.ch002 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 13-25

Author(s):

Bhavna Mukund ◽

Bijoy Kumar Dehuri

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Critical Thinking ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Sexual Activity ◽

Social Factors ◽

Scientific Method ◽

Policy Reforms ◽

Etiological Factors ◽

The World ◽

Unwanted Sexual Activity

This chapter describes how sexual abuse could be simply put as an unwanted sexual activity, with the perpetrators using force and/or making threats or taking advantage inability of victims to give consent. Sexual abuse is an extremely common and very serious problem affecting millions of people each year all over the world, but unfortunately in most countries there has been very little research conducted on the problem. Rationally speaking, to prevent or stop social evils like sexual abuse, the scientific method would be arguably one of the most powerful methodology in critical thinking and towards this, understanding causes of sexual abuse is extremely important. In this backdrop, this chapter addresses various psycho social factors, environmental factors and theories of sexual abuse to understand and appreciate the causes of sexual abuse. This concludes that with this aid in developing appropriate legal and policy reforms and interventions that would work on strategy to prevent sexual abuses in the society.

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Etiological Factors and Theories of Sexual Abuse

Social Issues Surrounding Harassment and Assault ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-7036-3.ch016 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 289-301

Author(s):

Bhavna Mukund ◽

Bijoy Kumar Dehuri

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Critical Thinking ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Sexual Activity ◽

Social Factors ◽

Scientific Method ◽

Policy Reforms ◽

Etiological Factors ◽

The World ◽

Unwanted Sexual Activity

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Sexual Harassment and Prior Sexual Trauma Among African-American and White American Women

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.9.3.233 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 233-247 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Gail E. Wyatt ◽

Monika Riederle

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

African American ◽

Sexual Harassment ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Well Being ◽

Cumulative Impact ◽

American Women ◽

White American ◽

Social Settings ◽

White American Women

This study examined the relationship between sexual harassment in work, educational, and social settings and sexual abuse in childhood and/or adulthood in a stratified community sample of 248 African-American and white American women. The cumulative impact of sexual victimization on women’s sense of general well-being was also examined. Those most likely to be sexually harassed in work and social settings were women with contact sexual abuse histories, regardless of ethnicity. The work status of harassers of women with sexual abuse histories differed significantly by ethnic group. Although women with prior sexual abuse experiences from both ethnic groups most frequently reported a response to sexual harassment at work, they least frequently did so in social settings. A history of childhood sexual abuse was more negatively associated with African-American women’s well-being than were repeated experiences of sexual violence. Future research should address the implications of ethnic and cultural issues on the cumulative impact of incidents of sexual violence on women of color.

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SEXUAL ACTIVITY AMONG JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL GIRLS IN ZAMBIA

Journal of Biosocial Science ◽

10.1017/s0021932097002976 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 297-301 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

VIJAYAN K. PILLAI ◽

THOMAS BARTON ◽

KOFI BENEFO

Keyword(s):

Secondary School ◽

Sexual Activity ◽

Causal Model ◽

Sexual Attitudes ◽

Courtship Behaviour ◽

Emotional Involvement ◽

Romantic Involvement ◽

Junior Secondary School ◽

Junior Secondary ◽

School Girls

This paper proposes a causal model of sexual activity among a randomly selected sample of 305 Junior secondary school girls in Zambia. The results indicate that liberal sexual attitudes influence romantic involvement with boys. Emotional involvement is likely to result in sexual activity. Traditional courtship forms are slowly being replaced by modern patterns of courtship behaviour. Policy and programme implications are discussed.

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Women and #MeToo in Italy: Internalized sexualization is associated with tolerance of sexual harassment and negative views of the #MeToo movement

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-021-01350-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Silvia Moscatelli ◽

Francesca Golfieri ◽

Carlo Tomasetto ◽

Rebecca S. Bigler

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Sexual Harassment ◽

Young Women ◽

Social Activism ◽

Well Being ◽

Sexual Attractiveness ◽

Negative Attitudes ◽

Sexist Attitudes ◽

Sexual Harassment Myths ◽

Women’S Views

AbstractAs a consequence of exposure to sexualized messages, girls and women may internalize the belief that sexual attractiveness to men is an important aspect of their identity. Whereas research on internalized sexualization has mainly focused on its consequences for girls’ well-being and academic outcomes, the present study (N = 222, women, aged 20 to 29) examined whether internalized sexualization is related to sexist attitudes and tolerance of sexual harassment among young women. It also analyzed internalized sexualization’ links to women’s views of notorious sexual abuse allegations in the so-called Weinstein scandal and attitudes towards the #MeToo movement, a campaign aimed at combatting sexual harassment and sexual assault. The study was conducted in Italy, a context characterized by pervasive sexualized messages and diffuse criticism against the #MeToo movement. The findings showed that internalized sexualization was associated with stronger endorsement of sexist attitudes and higher acceptance of sexual harassment myths, which worked as sequential mediators of skepticism towards sexual abuse allegations in the Weinstein scandals. Endorsement of sexist attitudes mediated the relation between internalized sexualization and negative attitudes towards the #MeToo movement. This study extends the knowledge on the correlates of sexualization, suggesting that women’s internalization of the belief that they should be sexually attractive to men might contribute to reinforce ideologies and attitudes that perpetrate women’s mistreatment while diminishing support for social activism on women’s behalf.

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