Street Harassment Among Addis Ababa University Technology Faculty Female Students: Lived Experiences, Impacts and Coping Strategies
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Date
2020-11
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AAU
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess Addis Ababa University, Technology Faculty female
students’ experience of street harassment. Street harassment is relatively a new term used to
explain gender based harassment that happens in public and crowded places. However, this
term does not bring yet a unified definition among scholars and activists since it is recently
introduced. The objective of the study was to explore on the lived experience, impact and
coping up mechanism of female students in relation to experiencing street harassment.
Qualitative research method was used in order to have in depth understanding of research
questions. The study population is female students at Addis Ababa University Technology
Faculty. Purposive sampling technique was used with in-depth interviews and focus group
discussions of data collection tools. The data was transcribed and analyzed through thematic
analysis approach. Experience of street harassment, its impact and how the students manage
the situation are the main study themes discussed. The study result revealed that street
harassment is challenging Addis Ababa University, Technology Faculty of female students.
Due to the location of the Technology Faculty Campus, female students are more exposed to
street harassment. The students travel out of their campus and cross a main public street to
attend class, use library and get back to their dormitories.Harassers disrespect, violate the
freedom and honor of women. The study shows that female students are affected by the acts
of street harassment and they can only ignore the fact that they are facing harassment due to
lack of organized legislation. The study adds to the literary work on street harassment and
suggests other researchers to explore on the issue. The study also invites practitioners to
participate in creating awareness on street harassment.
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Keywords
Addis Ababa,Female, Harassment, street, University