|
1 Out of 6 Korean students experiences sexual harassment: Survey
By Chung Ah-young
December 29, 2004
About one out of six students, or 15.9 percent, have experienced sexual
harassment in schools, according to a survey released by the Ministry of Gender
Equality on Wednesday.
The survey was conducted among about 2,000 students and teachers from
elementary, middle and high schools Nov. 18-30.
While 15.9 percent of students answered they have experienced sexual harassment
in schools, 5.1 percent of teachers replied the same.
The survey also pointed out that students suffer most from verbal harassment,
accounting for 11.8 percent, followed by visual harassment with 8.4 percent and
physical harassment with 6.7 percent.
Among the respondents, students are sexually harassed by fellow students,
representing 36.5 percent of the total, followed by teachers with 31.4 percent
and senior students with 15.1 percent.
Teachers replied that they experience sexual harassment from senior teachers,
accounting for 43.6 percent. They also are sexually harassed by fellow
teachers, with 40 percent.
Despite the seriousness of sexual harassment in schools, awareness and
preventative systems leave a lot to be desired.
About 63 percent of teachers replied their schools have no protection
facilities or counselors for sexual harassment victims, while only 37 percent
of teachers answered their schools are equipped with facilities and counselors.
Among the female teachers in the survey, 52.7 percent suffered from gender
discrimination.
A ministerial official said discrimination is often found in corporations and
public institutions and is worried that educational institutions are not an
exception to discrimination as they deprive female teachers the opportunithy of
being assigned to a higher position.
As for the gender discrimination prevention and relief act, 20.8 percent of
teachers replied they have never heard about it. About 46 percent of teachers
only recognize the name of the law with no further knowledge about its
function.
``The survey indicates that to eradicate gender discrimination and sexual
harassment, we should improve our legal system to better protect victims and
increase education and awareness," she said.
Comment on this story,
click here.
Copyright 1999-2004, AsianSexGazette.com. All rights reserved. No
content may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission.
Please contact us via the link below for re-print and syndication policies.
|
|
Female
officers to interview sexual assault victims
12-14-2004
Korean
sexual assault case provokes uproar
12-12-2004
|
