Technology-facilitated Sexual Harassment of a University Student in the Era of Digital Communication
A Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59319/arete.v3i2.990Keywords:
sexual harassment; digital violence; technology; power dynamics; non-fraternization; Social Role TheoryAbstract
Background: This case study explores power dynamics through the story of Lucia, a first-year law student and victim of technology-facilitated sexual harassment by a professor at her university. Readers will analyze the issues and conditions facing Lucia, consider potential courses of action, and evaluate actionable solutions for this real-world scenario. Objectives: Readers will explore the complexities of Role Theory, inequities inherent in professor and student relationships, conflicts of interest in institutional settings, and potential pitfalls of digital interconnectedness while developing a broader understanding of appropriate ethical boundaries. Learning Outcomes: As a result of heightened awareness, readers will develop an awareness and ability to self-advocate for appropriate relationships within the academy, to recognize signs of sexual harassment, and to exercise greater autonomy over their digital existence. Use: This case study is intended for instructional settings in university gender studies, communications, and ethics courses as well as in academic and corporate human resources, board and governance, and business management settings. Some content may not be suitable for minors. Teaching Notes: Teaching notes and materials will be made available upon request of a verified instructor or educator. Limitations: Names and locations were anonymized to protect the privacy and integrity of those involved, and some narrative was editorialized for purposes of clarity. Any dialogue presented in this case study is representative of conversations and data that is either protected or no longer available through public channels.
Author Biographies
Detra Lynn Mills, PhD Student, Saint Mary-of-the Woods College, Indiana (USA)
Detra Lynn Mills, JD, MBA was a litigator and mediator in private practice following a 20-year career in the health and hospital industry before transitioning to corporate executive leadership. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in global leadership (PhD 2025 anticipated, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College). As a committed interculturalist, Detra’s research interests are situated at the interdisciplinary nexus of behavioral science (i.e., psychological safety) and social justice studies (i.e., gender equity).
Tammy Haenlein, MBA Student, Saint Mary-of-the Woods College, Indiana (USA)
Tammy Haenlein is an MBA student at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. She has a background in communications and an interest in travel and cultures. She works in member services at an electric cooperative. Tammy is active in her community and involved with an organization that supports women and children affected by domestic violence. This case study is an opportunity to learn and reflect on gender equity in different cultures.
Lucero Vázquez, BS Student, American University of Paraguay, Asunción (Paraguay) and Junior Researcher, Institute of Central Bank
Lucero Vázquez is a junior researcher at the Institute of the Central Bank of Paraguay, and a student of economics at the American University of Paraguay. In this work, she has sought to build a comprehensive view that allows not only to describe realities, but also to interpret them from within, respecting the complexity of the contexts and the voices that inhabit them. For her, research is an act of commitment with the real, with the lived and with the possibility of transformation, is to give voice to those who rarely have it in academic discourses and contribute, from the lived, to a more human and situated understanding of knowledge.
Marcelo Echague Pastore, Faculty, Department of Economics, Universidad Americana in Paraguay
Marcelo Echague Pastore is a researcher and faculty member at the Department of Economics, Universidad Americana in Paraguay. He also acts as an Adjunct Instructor for the Master's in Leadership Development Program at SMWC, while being a peer-reviewer of the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI Press) and the Journal of Excellence in Global Leadership (Arete). Marcelo started collaborating with the Woods since 2023 during his US visit as a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from Paraguay, by giving lectures and helping tighten SMWC connections with South American institutions. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and obtained a Master’s in Public Policy from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (Tokyo, Japan), while specializing in Financial Technologies (FinTech) and Sustainable Finance.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Detra Lynn Mills, Tammy Haenlein, Lucero Vázquez, Marcelo Echague Pastore
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