Penelope Brooke Thompson, a former lecturer at Ashesi University and founder of the African Centre for Technical Training (ACTT), has recently shared a captivating story about how her allure became a distraction for certain male students.
In a fascinating podcast interview, she delved into the surprising encounters she faced during her time at the university.
During the podcast, Thompson unveiled that many students didn’t just view her as a lecturer but also as a peer. Some male students even went to the extent of treating her like a girlfriend. This unique dynamic posed an intriguing challenge for Thompson in upholding a professional atmosphere.
She proceeded to explain that although she had never experienced chauvinism at Ashesi, she did encounter difficulties with inappropriate advances from some of her male colleagues.
To address these advances, particularly during fundraising events, Thompson decided to wear a fake engagement ring. However, despite taking this precaution, she continued to receive unwarranted comments and propositions.
The most shocking revelation occurred during a performance appraisal when she discovered anonymous comments stating, “She is too attractive; we cannot concentrate in class.”
Thompson, who typically dresses in trousers and shirts, was taken aback when her department head confronted her about these comments.
Her boss conveyed, “We would prefer the students to pay attention to your words rather than your appearance,” leaving Thompson surprised and exclaiming, “What!”.
@imld.pod We are still trying to find that anonymous Ashesi guy! for the full episode, see link in bio #Ghana #Accra #Podcast #IMLDPod #AfricanPodcast #podcastclips
