Bringing to light disturbing statistics and information about the ragging situation in state universities in Sri Lanka, a study report issued by the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Centre for Gender Equity and Equality (CGEE) on ragging and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in state universities revealed that 16.6% of the surveyed students had been subjected to sexual harassment as a result of ragging. Alarmingly, 21% of the surveyed students had faced verbal sexual violence while 1.5% had been forced into sex.
One of the commonly known facts, which was also highlighted in the said study report, is that junior students who were subjected to ragging by their seniors are more likely to rag their juniors when they become senior students. Even though it may or may not be a significant reason for the continuation of ragging in universities, victims becoming perpetrators, triggering an endless cycle of ragging, is both unsurprising and alarming.
This cycle has to be broken, and breaking this cycle could easily help rid senior students of the mindset that it is acceptable to pass on to their juniors what they went through.
The attitudinal aspect of breaking this cycle goes beyond students merely repeating what they have experienced. The report highlighted that some students who participate in severe ragging share certain specific features, including coming from rural backgrounds, coming from low-income households, living primarily in university dorms, and having a troubled childhood. How and whether these situations contribute to their tendency to rag, and what steps need to be taken to break the connection, if any, between the said conditions and their tendency to rag, need to be addressed. Some students seeing ragging as some form of an introduction to university life or a way of disciplining them to get accustomed to the same are other matters related to attitudes that need to be addressed.
While it is difficult to think that all those who were interviewed revealed the whole truth about what they have experienced, the study had revealed little-known facts about the culture of ragging in universities. The question has been identified. Now, the real question is, what are the authorities going to do about it. To bring about this necessary change, university authorities have a huge responsibility, which, according to what the study report revealed, has not been fulfilled properly.
The report revealed that some academic staff members had sexually harassed female students, and that even though the occurrence of such may be low, the students who had faced such have had difficulties in completing their academic assignments. In addition, some students had said that although some members of the university staff including academic staff had witnessed students being ragged, they did not take any action to prevent such action. Some had even claimed that had university administrators paid adequate attention to these incidents and had implemented the rules that are in place, it would have been possible to bring ragging to an end.
Whenever the topic of ragging is discussed, which usually happens after ragging causes serious harm to a student, the authorities maintain that they do not agree with the culture of ragging, and that such is unacceptable. However, students that were interviewed for the study have revealed a great and unacceptable lethargy on the part of the authorities, which has a huge influence on the continuation of ragging in universities.
On the pretext of continuing some culture that is said to be helping to build supposed discipline and to create a sense of belonging and camaraderie, the ragging culture has continued for decades. At the end of the day, what it has actually resulted in is the disruption of education, discrimination, injuries and deaths, and mental scars that may last a lifetime.
The study would be meaningless if steps are not taken to address the issues it identified. Although it will take a long time to change the mindsets that approve of ragging, it has to start at some point, and this study could form a baseline for that. It is time to see ragging for what it really is, and make universities places that produce an educated future generation.The virus of sexual ragging
22 Mar 2022
The virus of sexual ragging
22 Mar 2022
Bringing to light disturbing statistics and information about the ragging situation in state universities in Sri Lanka, a study report issued by the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Centre for Gender Equity and Equality (CGEE) on ragging and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in state universities revealed that 16.6% of the surveyed students had been subjected to sexual harassment as a result of ragging. Alarmingly, 21% of the surveyed students had faced verbal sexual violence while 1.5% had been forced into sex.
One of the commonly known facts, which was also highlighted in the said study report, is that junior students who were subjected to ragging by their seniors are more likely to rag their juniors when they become senior students. Even though it may or may not be a significant reason for the continuation of ragging in universities, victims becoming perpetrators, triggering an endless cycle of ragging, is both unsurprising and alarming.
This cycle has to be broken, and breaking this cycle could easily help rid senior students of the mindset that it is acceptable to pass on to their juniors what they went through.
The attitudinal aspect of breaking this cycle goes beyond students merely repeating what they have experienced. The report highlighted that some students who participate in severe ragging share certain specific features, including coming from rural backgrounds, coming from low-income households, living primarily in university dorms, and having a troubled childhood. How and whether these situations contribute to their tendency to rag, and what steps need to be taken to break the connection, if any, between the said conditions and their tendency to rag, need to be addressed. Some students seeing ragging as some form of an introduction to university life or a way of disciplining them to get accustomed to the same are other matters related to attitudes that need to be addressed.
While it is difficult to think that all those who were interviewed revealed the whole truth about what they have experienced, the study had revealed little-known facts about the culture of ragging in universities. The question has been identified. Now, the real question is, what are the authorities going to do about it. To bring about this necessary change, university authorities have a huge responsibility, which, according to what the study report revealed, has not been fulfilled properly.
The report revealed that some academic staff members had sexually harassed female students, and that even though the occurrence of such may be low, the students who had faced such have had difficulties in completing their academic assignments. In addition, some students had said that although some members of the university staff including academic staff had witnessed students being ragged, they did not take any action to prevent such action. Some had even claimed that had university administrators paid adequate attention to these incidents and had implemented the rules that are in place, it would have been possible to bring ragging to an end.
Whenever the topic of ragging is discussed, which usually happens after ragging causes serious harm to a student, the authorities maintain that they do not agree with the culture of ragging, and that such is unacceptable. However, students that were interviewed for the study have revealed a great and unacceptable lethargy on the part of the authorities, which has a huge influence on the continuation of ragging in universities.
On the pretext of continuing some culture that is said to be helping to build supposed discipline and to create a sense of belonging and camaraderie, the ragging culture has continued for decades. At the end of the day, what it has actually resulted in is the disruption of education, discrimination, injuries and deaths, and mental scars that may last a lifetime.
The study would be meaningless if steps are not taken to address the issues it identified. Although it will take a long time to change the mindsets that approve of ragging, it has to start at some point, and this study could form a baseline for that. It is time to see ragging for what it really is, and make universities places that produce an educated future generation.Kapruka
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!