Effects of Cyber Harassment on Female Students at Pwani University

ABSTRACT

Cyber crimes are offences that are committed against individuals or groups of individuals with a criminal motive to intentionally harm the reputation of the victim or cause physical or mental harm to the victim directly or indirectly, using modern telecommunication networks such as Internet (Chat rooms, emails, notice boards and groups) and mobile phones (Wikipedia 2012). Such crimes may threaten a nation’s security and financial stability. Issues surrounding this type of crime have become high-profile, particularly those surrounding cracking, cyber terrorism, copyright infringement, child pornography, and child grooming. There are also problems of privacy when confidential information is lost or intercepted, lawfully or otherwise.

The overall objective of the study was to investigate and document the impact of cyber harassment on the female students of Pwani University College. The study focused on the emotional and psychological effects of cyber harassment. Primary and secondary data was used in the study. . Sampling was done through snowball and purposive sampling techniques. Primary data was gathered through the use of questionnaires (structured and unstructured). .

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Use of cyberspace and its attendant features of anonymity have both negative and positive influences on social aspects of every society. Cyber space has provided secure tools and spaces where men and women can enjoy their freedom of expression, information and privacy of communication. The same benefits of privacy and anonymity also extend to those who employ Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) to commit cyber crimes such as cyber harassment or cyber stalking. The distinction between cyber harassment and cyber stalking is very minute; cyber stalking is almost always characterized by the stalker relentlessly pursuing his or her victim online and is much more likely to include some form of offline attack (Wikipedia, 2012). This offline aspect makes it a more serious situation as it can easily lead to dangerous physical contact if the victim’s location is known. WiseGEEK (2012) defines cyber harassment as repeated, unsolicited, threatening behavior by a person or group using mobile or internet technology with the intent to bother, terrify, intimidate, humiliate, threaten, harass or stalk someone.

The harassment can take place in any electronic environment where communication with others is possible such as on social networking sites, on message boards, in chat rooms or through email. Cyber harassers are often driven by revenge, hate, anger, jealousy, obsession or mental illness. The cyber harasser’s intent is usually to frighten or embarrass the victim. Often the cyber harassment victim is merely in the wrong place at the wrong time or has made a comment or expressed an opinion that the cyber harasser dislikes. The harasser may post comments intended to cause distress to the victim, or make them the subject of harassment by others.

They may send a constant stream of e-mails and instant messages that are threatening or offensive to the victim or a victim’s co-workers, friends and family. They may pose as the victim and post offensive comments or send offensive messages in their names. Often their computer, email address or facebook account is broken into by the cyber harasser and taken over entirely. Self reports to Working to Halt Online Abuse (WHOA) between 2000 and 2008 indicate that 49.5% of cyber harasser’s are men while women make up 28.5% of cyber harasser’s. The victim is clearly the women, 72.5% of the victims were women while men accounted for 22.0% of the cases. That is why this research proposal concentrates on cyber harassment and its effects on female students at Pwani University College in Kilifi County, Kenya. 1.2 Statement of the Problem.

ICTs have provided an opportunity for women to exploit their capabilities to improve their quality of life as well as the contribution for the welfare of the society. More precisely, ICTs have contributed immensely to addressing gender inequalities. Thus cyber criminals who target women threaten to take away this safe and secure space where women can express themselves and expand their horizons due to safety concerns. Women’s contribution to social economic, political and cultural development is therefore limited due to fear of virtual harassment, abuse and violence. The 2009 Kenya communication amendment act focuses only on cyber crime against property and not persons and thus this makes it difficult to punish those who use ICTs to commit cyber harassment. Accordingly there is a need to come up with policies to address cyber harassment against women in the country but also in universities where this crime is most rampant. Most of the previous research efforts by Communication Commission of Kenya (2009) have focused on the crime against the child, against property and against government. This work puts the woman at the centre of the study.

1.3 General Objectives of the study:
The general objective of the study was to investigate and document the impact of cyber harassment on the female students of Pwani University College. 1.4 Specific objectives
The study intended to;
1. Explore how cyber harassment affects Pwani University College female students. 2. Investigate the prevalence of cyber harassment against female students in Pwani University College. 3. Find out which type of cyber harassment is most common. 4. Investigate how female students cope with cyber harassment. 5. Examine measures to address cyber harassment towards women ( what are the measures in place or being developed by the university administration) 1.5 Research Questions

* How does cyber harassment affect female students in Pwani University College emotionally and psychologically? * What is the prevalence of cyber harassment against female students in Pwani University College? * What type of cyber harassment is most common?

* How do female students cope with cyber harassment?
* What are the current measures taken to address cyber harassment against female students in Pwani University College? * What mechanisms are appropriate for addressing cyber harassment against female students?

1.6 Justification
The study will provide information that can be used for the development of cyber crime policy and regulatory framework that addresses cyber harassment against female students in Pwani University College. It also provides a platform upon which Pwani University College (PUC) female students can seek help against their harassers. Those engaging in cyber crime affect and indeed inhibit the use of cyber space. Inhibiting use through cyber crime results in increased operational costs occasioned by measures to mitigate the impact (legal, administrative, financial, and social). The outcome of the study will provide a framework to explore a strategy to address threat to increased use of the cyberspace

Female students are directly affected and access to use of the cyberspace inhibited. In certain cases, female students are not able to communicate and have to use meager resources to mitigate social vice as opposed to such resources being used to enhance their academic development. The study will also be of interest to the academia as it will offer basis for further research.

1.7 Limitations
Finding respondents with the right information on cyber harassment is envisioned to consume time which would otherwise be used to study for exams. The study only focuses on PUC female students and the findings may not be relevant in other places. The study does not explore the effects of cyber harassment on male students who are also affected by this problem.

The study only focuses on people aged eighteen and above thus it does not look at harassment of minors which is quite rampant.
The research will be carried out through survey design instead of being studied over time.

CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
Cyberspace is the electronic medium of computer networks, in which online communication takes place. Cybercrime is any illegal activity that uses a computer as its primary means of commission. Mr. Pavan Duggal (2004) the president of cyberlaws.net and consultant clearly defined the various categories of cybercrime: a) Against government e.g. cyber warfare which is very prevalent and a lot has been written about it because the government has a lot of interest in it. b) Against property e.g. ICT based systems, denial of service. c) Against the person

i. Child pornography
ii. Women – harassment, cyber stalking
Wikipedia (2012) defines cyber harassment as the use of a computer or computer network to communicate obscene, vulgar, profane, lewd, lascivicious, or indecent language or make any suggestion or proposal of an obscene nature or threaten any illegal or immoral act. 2.2 Types of Cyber Harassment

These types are as defined by Anne Bamford in her classroom paper “Cyber Culture and Identity: Issues in Belonging, Bullying and Being for Adolescents”, 2004, University of Technology, Sydney. 1. Anonymity this is when someone makes threatening comments to you, but is able to hide who they are. It may involve use of aliases or pseudonyms, sometimes the harasser may set up a website anonymously specifically to humiliate the victim. 2. Pseudonym or alias is like using a nickname. Harassers may call themselves a different name when they are online, to when they are offline. They do this to keep their real identity a secret from you 3. Flaming is an intense argument, that normally takes place in chat rooms, over instant messages or email. These harassers use capital letters, images and symbols to add emotion to their argument. In some cases harassers print out the argument differently so that it makes the victim look bad to other people. 4. Cyber Stalking is a form of harassment where the perpetrator relentlessly pursues his or her victim online and the victim fears that the cyber stalking may escalate to real stalking in the physical world.

5. Outing is the public display or forwarding of personal communications such as text messages, emails or instant messaging. 6. Masquerading is an elaborate form of cyber harassment where the harasser pretends to be someone they are not. They might create fake email addresses or facebook accounts or they might use someone else’s email or mobile phone to harass the victim

Conceptual framework
The main variables are the perpetrators, the victims, the environmental factors and the strategy to address the vice and its impact on the women’s appropriation of the cyberspace.
The United States Department of Justice Statistics (US DoJ) (2010) reveals that some 850,000 adults, mostly female are targets of cyber harassment each year. US DoJ statistics also show that 40% of women have experienced dating violence via social media, such as harassing text messages and disturbing information about them posted on social media sites.

Yeoju Chung of South Korea’s Kyungil University in Kate Taylor’s article “Cyber Harassment Worse than Harassment in Person” says that over a third of Korean students have been cyber harassed at least once over the last year.

A report by the Kenya ICT Action Network (2010) claims use of mobile phones and internet to stalk, abuse, traffic, intimidate and humiliate women in Kenya is rampant. The study conducted in universities around the country by KiCTAnet (Kenya ICT Action Network) in 2010 revealed that 13% of female students in institutions were victims of cyber attacks or some form of harassment.

Cyber harassment is perpetrated through social networking sites such as facebook, MySpace, twitter, instant messaging boards, email etc. The figure below shows data gathered from a literature review conducted between 2000 and 2008 by Working to Halt Online Abuse (WHOA) on how the harassment began.

Source WHOA (www.haltabuse.org)

The study by WHOA (2000-2008) shows that 72.5% of cyber harassment victims are women this shows that women are more vulnerable to cyber crime incidents. A report on women and cyber crimes in Kenya (2010) says lack of specific crime legislation makes it more difficult to punish those who use different ICT tools to perpetuate online crimes against women. 2.3 Theoretical Framework

Space Transition Theory (Jaishankar 2008) tries to explain the nature of persons who commit cybercrimes. Space transition involves the movement of persons from one space to another (e.g., from physical space to cyberspace and vice versa). Space transition theory argues that people behave differently when they move from one space to another. The theory argues that persons, with repressed criminal behavior (in the physical space) have a propensity to commit crime in cyberspace, which, otherwise they would not commit in physical space, due to their status and position. Cyberspace offers these people anonymity and thus the choice to commit cybercrime.

CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study Area
The study was carried out in Pwani University College which is located in Kilifi County along the Mombasa-Malindi highway. Kilifi town is approximately 60 kilometers North of Mombasa City in Coast Province. Kilifi is located directly off the Indian Ocean, at latitude -3.61000 and longitude 39.85000. According to the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) (2011) Kilifi town has a population of 48,826. The main economic activities are agriculture, tourism and fishing. The most prevalent diseases are malaria, HIV/AIDS, respiratory diseases and diarrheal diseases.

Kilifi town boasts two tertiary institutions, Pwani University College and Kenya Medical Training College. Pwani University College (PUC) is the former Kilifi Institute of Agriculture founded in 1984. Pwani University College was established as a constituent college of Kenyatta University by a gazette order issued on 23 August, 2007. According to the Pwani University College Strategic Plan 2010-2020, the university currently has a student population of about 1200. Pwani University College has four schools which all together offer nine degree programmes in the Arts, Humanities, Sciences and Education. The University has two female hostels which accommodate two thirds of the female student population with a third of the female population living in hostels outside the University. PUC has an up to date cyber café and free wireless connection to the internet for students with laptops or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) enabled phones thus access to the internet is easy. 3.2 Study Population

The study population involved all female students in Universities in Kenya. 3.3 Target Population
The study population was female students in Pwani University College. 3.4
Research Design
The study made use of survey design. This is a study conducted on samples it involves asking people questions and getting answers. This design was preferred because it is quick and easy to carry out. The data collected was both qualitative and quantitative. .

3.5 Sampling Design
The participants of the study were selected through snowball and purposive sampling design. Purposive sampling is where the researcher chooses participants who she thinks has the best information on the study topic. Snowball sampling is where the researcher picks a participant she believes has the information needed and then relies on that participant directing her to another respondent. 3.6 Data Collection

Data was collected through questionnaires using both structured and unstructured questionnaires. 3.7 Data Analysis
The data collected from the field was edited, coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). 3.8 Ethical

Considerations
The respondents’ information was treated with utmost confidentiality. The respondents were fully informed on the aims, methods and anticipated benefits of the study to secure their informed consent. The respondents were also informed that their participation was voluntary and they were at will to suspend or terminate their participation whenever they deem such actions as necessary. A copy of the report was also made available to the respondents

CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS
4.1.1 Course of study
It is shown in Table 4.1.1 that 10.0% of the respondents were Bachelor of Nursing students, 10.0% Bachelor of Arts students, 13.3% were Environmental Science students, 6.7% Bachelor of Education Arts, 13.3% Bachelor of Education Science, 23.3% Bachelor of Science In Hospitality. The higher (23.3%) percentage of the respondents taking Bachelor of Science in Hospitality may be due to the fact that the study was conducted when the end of semester examinations were taking place and it’s likely that other students might have been taking the exam when the data was being collected. Bachelor of Science Agriculture students comprise 16.7% of the respondents while Bachelor of Commerce students comprises 6.7% of the respondents.

Table 4.1.1 Course of Study
Course of study| Frequency| Percent|
Bachelor of Science Nursing| 3| 10.0|
Bachelor of Arts| 3| 10.0|
Bachelor of Environmental Science| 4| 13.3|
Bachelor of Education Arts| 2| 6.7|
Bachelor of education Science| 4| 13.3|
Bachelor of science Hospitality| 7| 23.3|
Bachelor of science Agriculture| 5| 16.7|
Bachelor of Commerce| 2| 6.7|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.1.2 Year of study
Table 4.1.2 shows that majority (33.3%) of the respondents were third years, while 30.0%, 20.0% and 16.7% were second years, first years and fourth years respectively. The third years made up the majority (33.3%) of the respondents probably because most of them reside in the hostels in campus.

Table 4.1.2 Year of study

year of study| Frequency| Percent|
year one| 6| 20.0|
year two| 9| 30.0|
year three| 10| 33.3|
year four| 5| 16.7|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.1.3 Religious affiliation
Among the respondents, slightly over three fifths (63.3%) were Christians, 23.3% Muslims and 13.3% represented other religions. Christians make up the majority (63.3%) of the respondents because Christianity is the major religion in Kenya.

Table 4.1.3 Religious Affiliation

Religious affiliation| Frequency| Percent|
Christian| 19| 63.3|
Muslim| 7| 23.3|
Other| 4| 13.3|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.1.3 Age of respondents
All (100%) of the respondents were aged between 18 and 30 years this is probably because the Kenyan education system is geared towards the young.

4.1.4 Marital status
It is shown that 36.7% of the respondents were in a relationship and over one half (56.7%) were single. The higher (56.7%) percentage of single female students could probably be due to the fact that they want to concentrate on their studies. 6.7% of the respondents were not willing to divulge such personal information.

Table 4.1.5 Marital status

Marital status| Frequency| Percent|
Single| 17| 56.7|
in a relationship| 11| 36.7|
not saying| 2| 6.7|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.1.6 Access to the internet
Table 4.1.6 shows that over three fourths (93.3%) of the respondents had access to the internet while 6.7% of the respondents did not. The higher (93.3%) percentage of access to the internet could probably be because Pwani University College has an up to date cyber café and offers free wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) so access to the internet is easy.

Table 4.1.6 Access to the internet

Access to the internet| Frequency| Percent|
Yes| 28| 93.3|
No| 2| 6.7|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.1.7 Respondents who knew what cyber harassment is
From Table 4.1.7, it is clear that four fifths (80.0%) of the respondents knew what cyber harassment was while only one fifth (20.0%) of the respondents did not know. The higher percentage (80%) of respondents who knew about cyber harassment could probably be attributed to the fact that they are computer literate.

Table 4.1.7 Know what cyber harassment is

Know what cyber harassment is| Frequency| Percent|
yes| 24| 80.0|
no| 6| 20.0|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.1.8 Victims of cyber harassment
Table 4.1.8 shows that over four fifths (86.7%) of the respondents admitted to being victims of cyber harassment while only 13.3% of the respondents were not. This finding negates a study conducted by Kenya ICT Action Network in 2010 in Universities around the country which found that 13.3% of female students had been victims of cyber attacks or some form of harassment. It also confirms self reports made to Working to Halt Online Abuse between 2000 and 2008 which show that 72.5% of cyber harassment victims are female. This can be attributed to the fact that there have been major advances in ICTs in Kenya since the laying of the fiber optic cable, this advances have led to an increase in the use of the internet thus an increase in cyber harassment. Table 4.1.8 Victims of cyber harassment

Victims of cyber harassment| Frequency| Percent|
Yes| 26| 86.7|
No| 4| 13.3|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.1.8 Relationship with the harasser

Online relationship with the harasser
Majority (63.3%) of the respondents indicated that they had an online relationship with the harasser. Of the sample, 7.0% of the respondents indicated that they did not have an online relationship with the harasser while 13.3% of the respondents were not victims of cyber harassment. The high (63.3%) percentage of respondents with online relationships with the harasser could be attributed to the increasing popularity of social networking sites such as twitter, facebook, myspace and many others to interact with people all over the world.

Table 4.1.9 Online relationship with the harasser

Online relationship with the harasser| Frequency| Percent| Yes| 19| 63.3|
No| 7| 23.3|
not harassed| 4| 13.3|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.1.10 Offline relationship with the harasser
Findings in Table 4.1.10 show that 26.7% of the respondents had offline relationships with the harasser while 60.0% of the respondents did not have an offline relationship with harasser. Of the total sample, 13.3% of the respondents were not harassed. Majority (60.0%) of respondents did not have offline relationships with the harassers; this could be attributed to the fact that social networking sites have become the modern day method of forging friendships and relationships.

Table 4.1.10 Offline relationship with the harasser Offline relationship with the harasser| Frequency| Percent| Yes| 8| 26.7|
No| 18| 60.0|
not harassed| 4| 13.3|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.1.11 Had both online and offline relationships with the harasser
It is shown in Table 4.1.11 that slightly over two thirds (70.0%) of the respondents did not have both online and offline relationships with the harasser while 16.7% of the respondents did. This small (16.7%) percentage of respondents who had both online and offline relationships with the harasser could probably be attributed to the fact that modern day friendships are formed online as shown in Table 4.1.9 where 63.3% of the respondents said they knew their harassers online.

It is clear also in Table 4.1.11 that 13.3% of the respondents were not victims of cyber harassment.

Table 4.1.11 Both online and offline relationships with the harasser

Offline and online relationship with the harasser| Frequency| Percent| Yes| 5| 16.7|
No| 21| 70.0|
not harassed| 4| 13.3|
Total| 30| 100.0|

Discussion of the findings on the relationship with the harassers This findings show that 73.3% of the respondents knew the perpetrators of the harassment in the physical space or cyber space or both. These findings confirm a study conducted by WHOA (2000-2008) which revealed that about 75% of the victims knew the perpetrators in a way.

4.1.12 How the perpetrators got the victims details

The respondents to the questionnaires had various ideas of how the perpetrators got their details.
Over one quarter (26.7%) of the respondents believed that the perpetrators got their details from mutual friends while 16.7% of the respondents believed that the perpetrators hacked their email accounts. Of the sample, 13.3% did not know where the perpetrators got their personal details while 10.0% said that the perpetrators called a random number heard a female voice then kept on calling even after repeated attempts to dissuade them.

However, 13.3% of the respondents were not harassed while one fifth (20.0%) of the respondents believe the perpetrators got their details from facebook

Table 4.1.12 How the perpetrator got their details

How the perpetrators got their details| Frequency| Percent| hacked email account| 5| 16.7|
from friends| 8| 26.7|
don’t know| 4| 13.3|
he called a random number heard a female voice then continue| 3| 10.0| not harassed| 4| 13.3|
Facebook| 6| 20.0|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.2.0 Sex of the harasser
Table 4.2.0 shows that over three fifths (63.3%) of the respondents said that harassers were male while only slightly over one fifth (23.3%) of the respondents said that the harassers were female. These findings negate self reports made to WHOA (2000-2008) that indicated that 49.5% of the cyber harassers were male while women made up 28.5% of the cyber harassers. This could be attributed to the fact that since 2008 there have been more developments in the ICT sector.

Table 4.2.0 Sex of the harasser

Sex of the harasser| Frequency| Percent|
Male| 19| 63.3|
Female| 7| 23.3|
not harassed| 4| 13.3|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.2.1 Respondents who knew why they were being harassed
An equal (43.3%) number of respondents knew why they were being harassed while the other did not have any idea why they were being harassed. On one hand, the 43.3% of the respondents who knew why they were being harassed could be attributed to the fact that they probably knew the perpetrators of the harassment and they may have done something to annoy them or they might have had a falling out. On the other hand, the 43.3% of the respondents who did not know why they were being harassed could be attributed to the fact that they were probably in the wrong place at the wrong time. Table 4.2.1 why they were being harassed

Why they were being harassed| Frequency| Percent|
Yes| 13| 43.3|
No| 13| 43.3|
not harassed| 4| 13.3|
Total| 30| 100.0|

4.2.2 Explanation why the respondents believed they were being harassed Slightly over two fifths (43.3%) of the respondents did not know why they were being harassed this could be attributed to the fact that majority of harassment victims are just usually in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could also be attributed to the fact that cyber space offers anonymity therefore the victims don’t know who is harassing them and thus the reason behind the harassment. Of the sample 13.3% of the respondents said that the harassers accused them of messing with their men. Further 16.7% of the respondents said that they had refused the perpetrators advances hence they resorted to harassment to vent their anger. While 6.7% of the respondents asked the harassers why they were harassing them but they refused to give them an answer. However 6.7% of the respondents believed that they were being harassed because of a statement they had made online. These findings confirm the report by WiseGeek (2012) which says that cyber harassers are often driven by revenge, hate, anger, jealousy, obsession or mental illness it further says that a cyber harasser’s intent is usually to frighten or embarrass the victim. Often the cyber harassment victim is merely in the wrong place at the wrong time or has made a comment or expressed an opinion that the cyber harasser dislikes.