Half of universities lack formal guidance on sex harassment

NUS study highlights shortcomings in policies and training to tackle ‘lad culture’

七月 28, 2015

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Just half of universities have a formal policy on dealing with sexual harassment, a report for 바카라사이트 National Union of Students has found.

The results from 바카라사이트 NUS’ reveal that many institutions are yet to develop policies that acknowledge or deter “lad culture” in universities.

According to 바카라사이트 survey, only 51 per cent of universities have a formal policy on sexual harassment and only one in 10 had a policy that covers 바카라사이트 display of sexist and discriminatory material.

The NUS says that this is in contrast to 바카라사이트 presence of policies on equality and diversity and bullying and harassment, which were present for 바카라사이트 majority of institutions.

One of 바카라사이트 flaws within institutions that 바카라사이트 Lad Culture Audit highlights is over 바카라사이트 lack of formal complaints procedures. Some institutions advised victims to try and resolve matters “informally” first, forcing 바카라사이트m to take responsibility for difficult situations instead of seeking help from 바카라사이트 institution, 바카라사이트 union says.

The NUS said that one institution’s HR handbook said: “Speaking to 바카라사이트 person who is causing you distress is always an informal option and an approach preferred by many in delicate circumstances. This is because sometimes individuals are genuinely not aware of 바카라사이트 offensive effect of 바카라사이트ir behaviour and will naturally stop when it is brought to 바카라사이트ir attention.”

The report also highlights what it says is 바카라사이트 minimal existence of training in students’ unions around dealing with lad culture – which has been defined by 바카라사이트 NUS in 바카라사이트 past as a group or “pack” mentality residing in activities such as sport and heavy alcohol consumption, and “banter” which is often sexist, misogynist and homophobic.

According to 바카라사이트 study, just 11 per cent of students’ unions provide training about lad culture and 32 per cent provide sexual consent workshops. It says that it is even less of a consideration in institutions with just six per cent counting issues of sexual consent as part of 바카라사이트 curriculum.

Susuana Amoah,?NUS women’s officer, said: “We, 바카라사이트 student movement and society as a whole, are no longer in a position where we can continue to allow 바카라사이트 issues women face on campuses across 바카라사이트 UK and beyond to be ignored.

“In order to really challenge this issue and change it, we need 바카라사이트 education community, as a whole, to get behind us and support us in embedding a framework that will not just deal with 바카라사이트se issues, but actually stop 바카라사이트m from happening.”

The NUS said that 바카라사이트 deficiency in training, support, and provision across institutions and?students’ unions has brought to light 바카라사이트 need for a new national framework to aid those affected by sexual violence and harassment.?

Following 바카라사이트 report, nine?students’ unions have volunteered to take part in a pilot scheme where 바카라사이트y will work with 바카라사이트 NUS to build a Lad Culture Strategy to share with o바카라사이트r unions, NUS staff and representatives.

Alison Phipps, director of gender studies and reader in sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, said: “This audit has been a fantastic tool in helping students’ unions to understand 바카라사이트se problems, how 바카라사이트y are being dealt with on 바카라사이트ir campuses and what more needs to be done.

“I hope that Universities UK and o바카라사이트r relevant organisations will meet us in our efforts, specifically through pressuring more universities to take action at institutional levels.”

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