SEXUAL HARASSMENT

 It was in the year, 2004. She was in Junior class 3.

A quiet and simple girl. The school authorities admired her.

He was one of her school teachers.  A short man, who loves to use a short cane. 

He was called Uncle E. 

He had been her teacher since class 1.

But something happened.

While teaching in class, he wouldn't stop staring at her. It was too much that she got embarrassed.

He would walk to her seat, put his hands on her shoulder, locate her bra handle, drag it up, and let it go.

It got to a point, her friends had to switch seats with her, so short Uncle E's hands wouldn't get to her.

One day, he said; " You are my loving girl". And other words that got her confused.

She went home, told her mum all that has happened.

Her mum got angry.  She reported to an authority in the school. One of the vice principals.

He, the vice principal, decided to talk with the teacher first. But Uncle E told the principal to bring the case to the class to confirm all that had happened.

This quiet student got the assurances of her classmates that they would speak up for her once the moment comes.

Now, there were about 3 teachers in the classroom with both Vice principals

She was asked to repeat all Uncle E said. 

It was an embarrassing moment for her. But she did it anyway. 

Her classmates were asked to confirm all that was said. None stood up to say a word.

The silence. You could actually hear a pin drop.

She looked around. Not even her best friend. 

She understood. They were scared.

Aunty J had this disappointed "aunty look" she made by lifting and bending her lower lip.

The girl claimed to be loved by school authorities, wasn't prepared for what came next.

It came from Aunty J. A fellow woman.

"You are corrupt, you are spoilt. Ehn ehn. At your age. What do you know?"

Mr VP joined her. "She's unbelievably corrupt".

There she stood. She did not know whether to cry or to accept the fact that she was corrupt.

Uncle E could stare at her when she ought to be learning. But she's the corrupt one.

Uncle E could drag her bra hand. But she's the corrupt one.

Uncle E could tell her "you are my loving girl" after staring at her for a long time. But she's the spoilt one.

It ended there.

The next day, she met her friend on her way to school. They talked about the different types of sexual harassment. 

Getting to school, the head teacher asked to see her. She didn't make it to the assembly, because  he was someone who understood.

He spoke to her and her friend at length. She had some relief, knowing she did nothing wrong.

Truthfully, a lot of people don't know what SEXUAL HARASSMENT is. Many ladies have been harassed and they knew it not.

Truth is, if you don't feel comfortable about it, if it feels strange to you, there's a likely hood that you've been harassed. It could be in any form.

Who defines the boundaries?  You!

If you feel you've been disrespected, do not keep quiet.

Remember, No is No.

See how helpless a child could be simply because we have a culture that protects our elders. 

Respect isn't respect. It is instead a kind of trauma that has caused us to be subservient. 

The average African child needs to heal from this trauma .

Otherwise, we would continue to hide our stories. 

Hiding our stories, prevents the cycle from being broken.

Our daughters and sons would get hurt and those after them.