Prevalence, Causes and Conceptualization of Sexual Harassment at East Branch of Bunna International Bank in Addis Ababa
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Date
2023-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The objective of the study was to assess the conceptualization, prevalence, and causes of sexual
harassment at the East Branch of Buna International Bank in Addis Ababa. To address this
objective the study employed a mixed method approach design. This study included 166
participants selected using systematic random sampling technique from the employees working in
the East Branch of Buna International Bank in Addis Ababa. Nine participants were purposively
selected to address the qualitative study objectives. In the present study, (60, 38.7%) of the
respondents perceived the presence of sexual harassment at the East Branch of Buna International
Bank in Addis Ababa. In the present study there was statistically significant association between
sexual harassment experience and gender. In this study, those who were females were 4.76 times
more likely to be sexually harassed than those who were male (AOR= 4.76; 95% CI: (2.16-10.4))
with p-value = 0.000. The proportion of sexual harassment in female study participants were
40(55.6%), and in male study participants were 20 (24.1%). In this study, one-way ANOVA was
conducted. Based on the one-way ANOVA result, we conclude that the mean sexual harassment
score was significantly different for at least one of the age groups (F1, 153 = 14.49, p = 0.00),
work experiences (F2, 152 = 12.78, p = 0.00), work positions (F2, 152 = 8.70, p = 0.00), and
educational status (F3, 151 = 3.53, p = 0.016). The current study revealed that the minimum
sexual harassment conceptualization score is sixteen and the maximum score is eighty. The mean
and standard deviation of sexual harassment score is 54.47+14.6. Based on the mean score; the
prevalence of high level of sexual harassment conceptualization was 101 (65.2%). Majority of the
study participants conceptualized that if their colleague tries unwanted attempt to have sex with
them that result in pleading, crying, or struggling, they will consider these attempts as a sexual
harassment. For the qualitative study, a total of nine respondents were successfully involved. From
the total of nine interviewed participants, six of them expressed the presence of sexual harassment
in their institute. The main causes of workplace sexual harassment explained by the participants
are culture (the belief or attitude or norms of the society given for females that undermine their
roles) and lack of knowledge. Therefore, Buna International Bank should revise or advance the
already available organizational gender sensitive strategy and allocate the necessary resources
to mitigate sexual harassment prevailing in the organization.
Key words: Sexual harassment, gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, sexual coercion