TW: Sexual Harassment, Indecent Assault

“Boy, you will regret denying me access to you, mark my words!”

Usually, a light laugh would follow Mr. Smith’s every sentence but, for the first time, his smile vanished and was replaced by something far darker. I searched his eyes in dire hope that he was joking, and in that moment, I realized how deeply I was entangled in a situation I couldn’t easily escape.

Faculty-student harassment in academia is pervasive, with approximately 25% of students having experienced harassment in academic settings. It is often built on the authority gap between professors and students, leaving those affected in a painful silence, unable to speak out due to the power dynamics at play. This is a system where respect for lecturers is absolute, professors are in a significant position of power, and students have few avenues for recourse. But what happens when this power is weaponised?

In this blog I share my journey through medical school in a large African country in which I endured a nightmarish lesson in navigating unwanted advances, the misuse of academic power, and the emotional trauma that followed. As I will share, the harassment affected not only my experience in the classroom, but my mental health, personal relationships, and my drive to succeed. 

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TW: Suicidal ideation

I am in my mentor’s office on a cold, rainy Friday afternoon before the holiday break. Tears are pouring down my face. I am unable to think straight and cannot tell right from wrong. A chill runs down my spine and I realise it has become impossible to do research. I am overwhelmed with dread at the thought of spending another year in my thesis lab, and writing a dissertation feels unimaginable. I feel trapped, isolated, and unwelcome, and suicidal thoughts have crept into my head. Over time, I have lost my purpose and wanted to quit science. I hit rock bottom. Sexual harassment has taken a heavy toll on me.

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