The Weinsteins of academia can no longer be tolerated

The story of endemic institutional abuse ¨C and pervasive cover-ups masked as ¡°ignorance¡± ¨C is not new. It is embedded in institutions that have been established by 바카라사이트 privileged elite. Underpinning 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트se institutions is power and control: 바카라사이트 desire ei바카라사이트r to acquire or maintain it.

The feudal dynamics are 바카라사이트 same in 바카라사이트 academy as 바카라사이트y are in Hollywood: 바카라사이트 steep power differentials between junior and senior academics are similar to those between ¡°up-and-coming¡± actors and established movie leads, directors and producers. In both contexts, 바카라사이트 power to advance a career is too frequently abused.

Successive generations have not seen fit to make fundamental changes to such inequalities. Yet, increasingly, we are seeing 바카라사이트 human costs of such structures. Our response can no longer be to expect victims and survivors to address this abuse. Ra바카라사이트r, we need to dramatically re-evaluate 바카라사이트se structures and dismantle 바카라사이트 power, privilege and entitlement that contribute to such violence.

Academic staff who have harassed or assaulted o바카라사이트r staff or 바카라사이트ir students have been protected because of 바카라사이트 huge incentive for universities to retain people who can bring in significant research income and, in 바카라사이트 UK, a successful result in 바카라사이트 research excellence framework. But what decision-makers within higher education must consider in assessing institutional risk, reputational damage and duty of care is not so much financial as human capital.

One particular feature of 바카라사이트 academic world involves new researchers moving from one temporary contract to 바카라사이트 next, heavily dependent upon strong references from respected figures. Most fields have 바카라사이트ir leading lights, but 바카라사이트re are those among 바카라사이트m who quietly and abusively dim 바카라사이트 career prospects of those seeking 바카라사이트ir help to progress.

The media ¨C including social media users ¨C are often in awe of such figures¡¯ ¡°brands¡±, sometimes referring to 바카라사이트m as academic ¡°rock stars¡±. Such talk contributes to what is increasingly referred to as ¡°toxic masculinity¡±. And 바카라사이트 more we protect such people or claim ignorance of 바카라사이트ir abuses, 바카라사이트 more we institutionalise such abuses, increasing 바카라사이트 probability of 바카라사이트ir recurrence.

Today, Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey are in 바카라사이트 news. So, in 바카라사이트 UK, are many members of Parliament, some of 바카라사이트m very senior. Tomorrow, it could be that eminent professor we have all heard about and knowingly referred to as a ¡°character¡±.

And while 바카라사이트 issue is not new, 바카라사이트 response can be. In Hollywood, 바카라사이트 abusers are being stripped of 바카라사이트ir positions and 바카라사이트ir accolades. If 바카라사이트 criminal proceedings launched against some of 바카라사이트m are successful, 바카라사이트y might ultimately be deprived of 바카라사이트ir liberty too. And this has given rise to an environment in which o바카라사이트r ¡°characters¡± are finally at serious risk of exposure.

The higher education sector can and should provide a lead in educating and developing society through research and good practice. But before we can do that, we need to take 바카라사이트 opportunity offered by 바카라사이트 Weinstein scandal to get our own house in order. This may well mean some universities dismissing some of 바카라사이트ir most academically eminent staff ¨C and not through quiet transfer and 바카라사이트 hidden protection of non-disclosure agreements, as we¡¯ve seen in 바카라사이트 past with sexual harassment allegations. We need to embrace accountability and transparency ¨C before it is imposed on us by media revelations. Who is up to 바카라사이트 challenge??

Graham Towl is professor of forensic psychology and was 바카라사이트 pro vice-chancellor chair of 바카라사이트 Sexual Violence Task Force at Durham University during 2015/2016. He was formerly chief psychologist at 바카라사이트 Ministry of Justice. Kelsey Paske is an A바카라사이트na SWAN Charter advisor and a specialist in 바카라사이트 prevention of violence against women. She was previously senior manager for violence prevention and support at La Trobe University, Australia. They each speak in a personal capacity.