Sexual harassment against sexual minority students in a university in Nigeria

Abstract

Although most universities in Nigeria have a stringent policy against sexual harassment, most of these policies fail to recognize the unique needs of sexual minority individuals. The study aimed to explore the lived experience of sexual minority survivors of sexual harassment in a higher educational institution (HEI) in Nigeria. This study employed a qualitative narrative phenomenological approach. We collected data from sexual minority students (aged 18–29 years) who had experienced sexual harassment, policymakers, and peer supporters, using the phenomenological approach between February and June 2024. In-depth interviews were conducted with sexual minority students recruited from a Nigerian university who had experienced sexual harassment. The data were transcribed, coded, and inductively analysed to generate themes using ATLAS.ti version 24. The study included 20 students who identified as sexual minorities. The analysis revealed seven key themes (i) Experiences of sexual harassment, including verbal and physical assault, rape, and homophobic violence, which led to self-isolation, absenteeism, anxiety, and diminished trust in others (ii) Community and social perceptions (iii) Cultural and religious factors (iv) Psychological and academic impacts (v) Coping strategies with survivors reporting different strategies, such as confiding in friends, avoiding perpetrators, stress eating, crying, using social media as a distraction, and psychoactive substance use. (vi) Institutional support, with most survivors reluctant to report incidents to law enforcement or institutional authorities due to fears of escalation, lack of evidence, Nigeria’s criminalization of same-sex relationships, and concerns about further victimization by authorities. (vii) Recommendations for institutional reforms such as inclusive policies, diversity training, and awareness campaigns to build a more tolerant and supportive campus environment. The experience of sexual harassment among sexual minorities in HEIs may be fraught with barriers that hinder justice and institutional protection. This has implications for the well-being of survivors. There is a need for institutional policy reforms and cultural changes that promote social inclusion and address the specific needs of sexual minorities. Training of stakeholders is also essential to making sexual minority spaces safer.