“She was asking for it.” “She shouldn’t have worn that.” “She shouldn’t have flirted with him.”
Many women hear these phrases after reporting sexual harassment. As a Black woman, I have faced the disturbing realities of sexual harassment, discrimination, and stalking. These phrases highlight how our society perpetuates victim-blaming and contributes to rape culture.
Phrases like these discourage many women, who have already endured the worst possible scenarios, from coming forward. Following my report of sexual harassment and stalking to a former supervisor, the situation worsened considerably. Others joined in on the harassment with prank calls, following and taunting me outside my apartment, and yelling sexually suggestive comments at me while going about my daily routine. The situation escalated to the point where some individuals even crossed the line by inappropriately touching me. Shockingly, instead of receiving support, I encountered skepticism and suggestions that I might be suffering from mental delusions. This distressing ordeal persisted for several years.
The individuals responsible for these malicious acts faced no consequences. As a result, I had to seek new employment and relocate to a different city. I was the one who bore the brunt of the upheaval in my life.
Sex discrimination and sexual harassment need to have more attention, and learning about these issues should start before we enter the workforce. In 2021, a staggering 11,580 sexual criminal offenses were reported on college campuses. These crimes include incidents of rape, statutory rape, fondling, and incest. Between 2018 and 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received a total of 27,291 charges alleging sexual harassment in the workplace.
Countless students attending universities nationwide have bravely come forward to report instances of sexual violence only to encounter institutions that either disregard their suffering or fail to take prompt action. The absence of comprehensive education and policies addressing sexual harassment paves the way for other students to endure similar traumatic experiences that could be prevented. The repercussions of these violations echo throughout the victims’ education. Many find it challenging to attend classes and witness their academic performance decline. Some students take extended leaves of absence to heal or distance themselves from their perpetrators. Others must transfer to a different institution or abandon their educational pursuits.
The prevalence of these offenses underscores the pressing need for measures to educate, prevent, address, and report such misconduct on campuses and in the workplace. Research has shown that isolated activities, such as a single one-hour online class or a solitary lecture, are ineffective and lack evidential support in preventing sexual violence. Instead, prevention efforts should encompass a range of activities to create a campus culture that fosters respect, safety, and accountability. Policies can involve the following activities:
- Facilitate training sessions to establish positive norms around gender, sexuality, and violence, which will help build healthy relationship skills.
- Implement interventions within residence halls and athletic programs to address hyper-masculine peer norms that may support or facilitate cases of sexual violence.
- Develop interactive sessions for students to learn how to intervene as bystanders.
- Involve campus leaders to foster a culture of safety and respect.
- Run a social marketing campaign to address norms related to sexual violence, gender, and sexuality.
- Establish a robust reporting process to ensure clear and accessible avenues for reporting any concerning behavior or incidents.
Developing and implementing thorough training programs and policies to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination are essential in creating safe and respectful environments. It is crucial to eliminate any language that shifts blame onto victims of sexual assault and to establish robust support systems that empower women to speak out without fear of reprisal.
authored by Aquita Brown, Fahrenheit Creative Group