JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL POLICY (JHSP )
E-ISSN 2545-5729
P-ISSN 2695 2416
VOL. 11 NO. 4 2025
DOI: 10.56201/jhsp.vol.11.no4.2025.pg42.47
Patience AnthonyEuba, Emem Ikenga, Mojisola Raji
Sexual harassment remains a pervasive issue affecting women across tertiary institutions and workplace environments, undermining their rights, dignity, and ability to thrive in educational and professional settings. This paper critically examines the dynamics of female liberation from sexual harassment. It focuses on institutional, cultural, and legal frameworks that either enable or challenge such misconduct. Drawing from interdisciplinary research, real-life case studies, and feminist theories, the study explores the psychological, academic, and career-related implications of harassment on women. It also evaluates existing policies and preventive mechanisms in place within higher education institutions and corporate organizations, identifying gaps in enforcement and support systems. Emphasis is placed on the importance of advocacy, awareness, gender- sensitive reforms, and empowerment strategies that equip women with the tools to resist, report, and recover from harassment. Furthermore, the paper underscores the role of institutional accountability, inclusive of leadership, and education in fostering safe and equitable environments. Ultimately, the study advocates for a transformative approach that moves beyond reactive measures to proactive liberation—ensuring that every woman is free from intimidation, discrimination, and abuse in both academic and professional spheres.
Sexual harassment, Female liberation, Tertiary institutions, Workplace environment, Gender-sensitive reforms
Akinwale, A. A., & Olayanju, A. (2021). Institutional Responses to Sexual Harassment in Nigerian
Universities: Policy and Practice. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 22(3), 45–60.
Bhana, D., & Pillay, V. (2021). Gendered Violence and the Everyday in University Campuses in
South Africa. South African Journal of Higher Education, 35(1), 1–13
Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist
Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1),
139–167
French, J. R. P., & Raven, B. (1959). The Bases of Social Power. In Cartwright, D. (Ed.), Studies
in Social Power (pp. 150–167). University of Michigan Press
Kanter, R. M. (1977). Men and Women of the Corporation. Basic Books
MacKinnon, C. A. (1979). Sexual Harassment of Working Women: A Case of Sex Discrimination.
Yale University Press.
McDonald, P. (2012). Workplace Sexual Harassment 30 Years On: A Review of the Literature.
International Journal of Management Reviews, 14(1), 1–17.
Mushtaq, S., & Noreen, S.(2020). Addressing Sexual Harassment: A Case for Educational and
Workplace Reform. Journal of Gender Studies, 29(4), 456–472.
UNESCO. (2019). Behind the Numbers: Ending School Violence and Bullying. Paris: United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2021). Sexual Harassment. Retrieved from
https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment
websites
BBC News Article on Campaign
Me Too Movement Official Site
Our Streets Now
Stop Street Harassment
Time's Up Foundation
UN Women Campaign Overview