Trauma of Work Place Sexual Harassment of Females: A Study of Sefi Atta’s Swallow

Abstract

This study explores the impact of workplace sexual assault, highlighting the debilitating effects on psychological, social, physical, career trajectories and overall wellbeing of the victims. Gendered sexual assault at workplace is a menacing and prevalent issue that distresses the female workers across various professions.  The research exposes how Sefi Atta’s characters navigate through the complexities of trauma and highlights the relationship between trauma, gender and power utilizing the workplace milieu. The selected novel for the study is examined using qualitative method of information analysis. The study used trauma theory to expose the distress and devastation sexual assault victims experience. The research discovered that women are not safe at workplaces due to patriarchy. It observes that power dynamics and organizational notions enhance the silencing of the victims and the propagation of the offense. Considering the devastating effects of sexual assault, the study recommends that more efforts should be made by literary writers, the masses and the government to identify interventions and strategies for addressing the menace and overriding consequences of sexual assault by promoting healing and resilience among survivors.