UNDERGRADUATES PERCEPTION ON CAUSAL FACTORS OF RAPE AND REASONS FOR CULTURE OF SILENCE ASSOCIATED WITH RAPE VICTIMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

The prevalence and consequences of rape in Universities calls for urgent scholarly and global attention. The phenomenon of rape has been caused by several factors and aggravated by the culture of silence due to the sensitive nature of the act and stigma associated with it. While neglecting this fact, several studies have focused on the pattern and consequences of rape in the Nigeria. This study thus focused on the perceived causal factors of rape and culture of silence among undergraduates of the University of Ibadan. The differential association theory and Social bond/control theories were used as frameworks for explanation. Data were collected through quantitative and qualitative methods. The sample size of 499 respondents for the survey was determined using Leslie Kish’s formula, while 4 case studies, 5 in-depth interviews (IDI) and one of key informant interview (KII) with a criminologist was carried out for the qualitative. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented using descriptive statistics such as percentages, charts and cross-tabulations, while the qualitative data was content analyzed. Findings from the study showed that all the respondents have heard of rape before. About (62.7%) emphasized ‘indecent dressing’ as a major factor for being raped while a large majority (88.6%) identified ‘crave for sexual fantasies’ as the most critical factor responsible for rape to occur. About (89.2%) agreed that rape leads to stigmatization hence victims keep quiet about it. Many perpetrators of rape were said to have continued in the act because they were never apprehended and punished due to the fact that victims were silent about it to avoid the disgrace and stigma associated with being raped. The culture of silence aggravates the prevalence of rape, hence sectors such as the family, religion, government, legal, economic, mass media and educational need to speak up and encourage rape victims to voice out and seek redress so that offenders can be punished. This will go a long way to reduce the prevalence of rape in tertiary institutions.