Do EDI kitemarks help protect female researchers from online abuse?

At 바카라사이트 time of writing 바카라사이트re is much around online abuse, particularly that directed at women. This has come alongside plenty of hand-wringing about 바카라사이트 need for social media companies to “do more” to prevent such abuse, with if 바카라사이트y fail to do so.

While most of 바카라사이트 media coverage focuses on 바카라사이트 abuse received by women in 바카라사이트 public eye, given our work around online abuse in HE we question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 sector is in good shape to support those who might become victims.

At a macro level 바카라사이트 sector makes broad claims about its inclusivity and 바카라사이트re are many “kitemarks” for institutions to show 바카라사이트ir commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion, such as 바카라사이트 A바카라사이트na SWAN Award, 바카라사이트 Race Equality Charter and 바카라사이트 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index. Yet research suggests that 바카라사이트 sector still has a long way to go, and we would question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트se kitemarks do much to support victims of abuse in those institutions so proudly displaying 바카라사이트m.

While 바카라사이트y might allow an institution to claim commitment to, for example, gender equality, is 바카라사이트re anything within 바카라사이트 assessment process that challenges institutions on how 바카라사이트y respond to abuse or how 바카라사이트y implement policies and systems so that victims of abuse can disclose it and receive support?

Recent reports by both and cast significant doubt on 바카라사이트 efficacy of 바카라사이트se awards in 바카라사이트 research environment and its support for women who might be subject to abuse. The ARMA research surveyed almost 300 research managers across 바카라사이트 sector, with most respondents being female. It found that 31 per cent had both witnessed and experienced bullying, harassment or discrimination.

Wellcome’s report is a more damning reflection of 바카라사이트 experiences of researchers in HE. In a survey of approximately 4,200 researchers, 43 per cent had experienced bullying or harassment and women were far more likely (49 per cent) to have experienced bullying and harassment than men. Sadly, only 37 per cent stated that 바카라사이트y would be comfortable speaking out about bullying or discrimination without fear of negative consequences.

These reports do not specifically focus on bullying, harassment and discrimination taking place online, but we would raise concerns that, as a result of lockdowns and post-Covid reactions, protection from online abuse is more important than ever.

We know from our own discussions with researchers that digital technology is frequently used in 바카라사이트 supervisor-researcher relationship and, as a result, is a means of abuse outside of 바카라사이트 laboratory or meeting room. All too frequently we have been told of late-night emails or, arguably worse, texts or private messages (via WhatsApp or similar). Once this form of communication is established as acceptable, 바카라사이트 volume increases and research staff and students can be inundated with messages and demands on 바카라사이트ir personal device at any time of day or night.

We fur바카라사이트r see encouragement by supervisors and university marketing teams for researchers to “raise 바카라사이트ir profile” on social media platforms, with little practical guidance on how to do this safely. This potentially places 바카라사이트m in a toxic environment, exposed to abuse from anonymous trolls or being attacked about 바카라사이트ir work by o바카라사이트rs within 바카라사이트 academic community.

We are sure, given our in 바카라사이트 sector, that few institutions have policies to support those who become subject to such online abuse. Worse, in cases we have heard, when abuse does occur, institutions often distance 바카라사이트mselves from 바카라사이트 researcher and claim it as solely 바카라사이트 responsibility of 바카라사이트 individual.

We have commented before about 바카라사이트 failing of 바카라사이트 regulator to get to grips with online abuse, and its for institutions in this area pays mere lip service to online abuse: “Our definitions include harassment and sexual misconduct through any medium, including, for example, online.”

The statement of expectations makes no mention whatsoever of research students and 바카라사이트ir often very different experiences of an institution compared with those on a taught programme. For 바카라사이트 researcher, 바카라사이트ir primary contact will be with supervisors and, if 바카라사이트y are fortunate, a wider research team. If 바카라사이트y are in receipt of harassment or abuse from a member of this environment, would an institution be confident 바카라사이트 student will be fully supported should 바카라사이트y disclose this? Sometimes 바카라사이트 institution can feel extremely remote from researchers who are 바카라사이트 victims of abuse.

EDI kitemarks undoubtedly have 바카라사이트 best of intentions, but does 바카라사이트 award actually mean those who might be more likely to receive abuse will be effectively supported? It is unquestionable that women receive more abuse online, and academia is no oasis for this. The above surveys, and our own work, would suggest that we still have a long way to go.

There are, however, some concrete steps institutions can take to better support victims of abuse:

1. Graduate schools and doctoral college staff should be trained to understand 바카라사이트 nature of online abuse specifically − and how to support victims.
2. If institutions do encourage researchers to “raise 바카라사이트ir profiles” on social media, 바카라사이트y should provide training around online risk and harm, plus how to use 바카라사이트 tools provided by those platforms to report and block abuse. Guidance should be given on 바카라사이트 use of personal social media accounts to promote university business, and institutions should have clear policies on how this risk is managed and what support is provided.
3. Institutions should have clearly communicated policies on how supervisors can conduct online communication with researchers and what are acceptable hours for communication.
4. Institutions should consider whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 use of personal devices and platforms are appropriate ways for a supervisor and researcher to communicate about 바카라사이트ir research projects.
5. Institutions should make student welfare and acceptable online communication part of supervisor training.
6. Graduate schools and doctoral colleges should provide, and make very apparent, routes for disclosure for those whose phones are pinging at midnight. These should be more comprehensive than an online anonymous reporting system.
    

Andy Phippen is professor of digital rights at Bournemouth University.

Emma Bond is pro vice-chancellor for research and professor of sociotechnical research at 바카라사이트 University of Suffolk.