Soon I am off to work. I teach Mon-Wed so when Monday is a holiday, my week becomes really short. Also after this short week the mid semester break comes on. Still, I’m sure I’ll make myself busy. One of the things I am doing this week is to finish up an article I am writing for University World News on sexual harassment in universities in Ghana or “sex for grades” as it has been described in media recently (for instance here and here).
If you have opinions or information on that topic, don’t hesitate to comment below.
Now I will start my short week!
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1 Comment
This is such an important issue because it seems to me to get to the heart of the problem.
It is about power and the prevailing view in Ghanaian culture that no one has the ‘right’ to challenge or question it.
University students have complained that no clear criteria is given on how to get grades. Papers are never returned when the grade is given. There is no explanation on why one gets a certain grade. The professers don’t have to. No one checks and no one seems to understands the importance of honest feedback.
In this environment, power runs unabated.
Add to this, patriarchal views on women, often reinforced by readings of religious texts, and the recipe for disaster is there.