Calot, Rose Marie G. Prof.

Luis San Juan

2EDFIL3A

CASE 2

A student is failing in her subject. She approached her professor and asked
for assistance because her failure might cost her scholarship. Her professor
told her that the only way that she can pass the subject is for her to have sex
with him.

1. Do you think this kind of situation could happen?

Yes. This circumstance is more likely to occur at private schools with hefty
tuition rates. Some students may have already done this due to their needs,
although they are aware that it is dangerous. I feel they act in this manner as a
result of the pressure they are under or their burden.

2. Did she give her informed consent?

No. She just wants to pass the course, which is why she approached her
professor; though she desperately will do anything to pass the course, she did not
specify that she would also be willing to have sex with her professor to pass.

3. Was there is any force used in this incident? Who is more powerful in
this example?

No. However her professor gave her inappropriate choices. Given that she is his
student, who may be a minor, the professor engages in sexual harassment by
requesting sex in exchange for a benefit or a favor. The professor may not force
her to do it but given that he has placed her in a position where she must choose
between two difficult options, she may do it if she had the chance.

4. What kind of power does the professor have?

The professor has the power in terms of coercion. The professor has the power
to use prohibitions as well as to impose consequences or punishments on students.
If the student refuses to have sex with the professor, the professor has the power to
make the student fail and lose her scholarship if she refused to have sex with her.

5. What kind of power does this student have?

The student has the ability to make his or her own decisions. Even though it is
difficult to make decisions in that situation, she must choose between following her
professor's orders and passing the subject or failing the subject and losing her
scholarship while remaining honest and doing nothing wrong.

6. How does power relate to choose in this example?

In this case, power had a significant influence in making a decision. It is quite

difficult to choose between passing or failing a subject when you are a student.
Some individuals fall for it and do it to get pass. It has an impact on our choices in
terms of influencing our minds about the possible outcomes of our decisions, such
as whether we will do the right thing and fail or the wrong thing and pass.