Making Schools Safe for Girls - library.unesco-ii...

Why do girls become involved with teachers? Girls underscored the transactionaldimension that is characteristic of much teacher-student sex. Theyidentified the promise of good grades, the fear of bad grades, and the exchangeof money as the top three reasons for these relationships. Othermotivations, such as liking the teacher or feeling important, were reportedmuch less commonly. While several students spoke euphemistically ofacademic coercion, complaining that teachers often give girls “arbitrarygrades,” some identified the problem more directly. “I have a teacher whoharasses us girls and sometimes even threatens to give us bad grades if wedon’t accept his advances,” a secondary student explained. Another studentoffered an alternative explanation. “Teachers take advantage of girls’ financialsituation and court them. It is because parents support their girls verylittle at school,” she said.13