REACTIONS OF COLLEGE WOMEN TOWARDS SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY, GENERAL SANTOS CITY

The researcher determined the socio-economic profile of the students who experienced sexual harassment, the types of sexual harassment they experienced and the reactions of the respondents towards these harassments.

The researcher used descriptive study employing a survey method of research. The samples were drawn using non-probability sampling technique, specifically, the purposive sampling. With the use of snowball technique the respondents were identified. College students, specifically, the women were the respondents of this study. They were bona fide students of Mindanao State University, General Santos City for second semester of the academic year 2016-2017. There were seventy (70) respondents from the six (6) colleges of Mindanao State University, General Santos City.

The study found out that majority of the respondents were fourth year students. They were Roman Catholics, from Ilonggo tribe and students of College of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The findings revealed that most of the respondents experienced sexual harassment 10 years ago in the street. Majority of them said that they do not perceived sexual harassment as compliment or praise because it degrades their dignity as a woman. The type of sexual harassment they experienced were physical, verbal and non-verbal forms of harassment. Most of the respondents felt scared and unsafe. They felt humiliated and ashamed. Also, they talked to someone about their experiences. They ignored and avoided the perpetrator.

Based on the findings of this study, the researcher recommends a seminar about anti-sexual harassment be conducted in the university. Furthermore, the researcher recommends conducting further research focusing on other factors that leads to sexual harassment.