Understanding Physical and Mental Sexual Harassment of Women In Sub-Saharan Politics: A Comparative Analysis Of Nigeria And Uganda (1999-2019)

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that violence against women politicians in sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly recognized globally as a key impediment to their participation in politics. This follows the troubling increase in documented cases of abuse, threat, harassment and intimidation aimed at women politicians on the continent. Consequently, bias toward women occupying political positions originates from the structural, cultural and symbolic violence, which differentiates this practice from other forms of political violence. This study provides an extensive understanding of the physical and mental sexual harassment of women in sub-Saharan African politics. It draws attention comparatively to this conundrum by drawing on the experience of women in Nigeria and Uganda. While it is a known that sexual harassment pervades the Nigerian and Ugandan political space, available data are very slim since cases are often underreported and when they do, are not pursued to a logical conclusion. A major impact of this is that women are reluctant to participate and be involved in the political and decision-making framework of their respective countries. In this study, primary and secondary sources were adopted and critically examined and analysed. The methodology adopted is based on content analysis of the sources used. Part of the results of the study shows that sexual harassment is associated with sexuality, patriarchy and gender power differences which is a huge factor that helps to perpetuate the conduct in sub-Saharan Africa. Secondly, gender-based violence against women has become normalised accounting for why women are often the victims of the conduct.

Keyword: Sexual harassment, Nigeria/Uganda, Gender-based violence, Women in politics, Sub-Saharan Africa

DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/80-07

Publication date:July 31^st 2022