Universiteit Leiden

nl en
Student website ICT in Business (MSc)

How can we make unacceptable behaviour a man’s issue?

During Consent is Key Week, we’re exploring ways to eliminate sexual violence within our university community. We spoke to Assistant Professor Mischa Dekker, who specialises in gender-related violence, about how to prevent unacceptable behaviour among students and staff.

In November, considerable attention will be given, both within and outside the university, to ending violence against women. Consent is Key Week is about preventing sexual violence within the university community, while Orange the World, a UN campaign starting on 25 November, calls for action to end violence against women and girls.

What can the university do to help prevent unacceptable behaviour? We asked Mischa Dekker, whose research project has the thought-provoking title: ‘Why Is Sexual Violence Still Not a Man’s Problem?’

Mischa Dekker

In a previous interview you mentioned that behaviour will only change when prevention campaigns resonate with the worldview of boys and men. What practical steps can the university take?

‘There are two risks to engaging men and boys in the fight against unacceptable behaviour. First, they feel personally attacked. A common response is, for example, “Are you saying that if I make a clumsy comment, I’m some kind of rapist?” Second, some men feel this issue doesn’t concern them directly, that it’s not about them as an individual.

‘Campaigns against unacceptable behaviour should acknowledge both reactions. What would work with student associations and university staff would be to facilitate small-group discussions about the topic. This would create space for personal reflection and open dialogue. Campaigns should also be tailored to the specific contexts of student life and the university workplace.’

Small group discussions can be uncomfortable and cause resistance. Do you have suggestions on how to get the conversation going in groups of students and staff?

‘Talking about collective responsibility rather than individual guilt helps reduce resistance. The slogan “violence against women is a men’s issue” can sound like a wagging finger, but it’s really about recognising that women have historically led efforts to prevent gender-related violence, when men also have a crucial role to play.’

What themes from male students’ lives could be useful starting points for a conversation?

‘I’ve worked on research on unacceptable behaviour within student associations, and two clear risk factors emerged: alcohol use and rigid hierarchies. You could address those two topics in a campaign.’

Hierarchies are also a problem in the research world. What is needed to change the culture at the university?

‘For cultural change you need to adjust the organisational structure. This could mean giving staff more of a voice and limiting the power of individuals could make a difference, for example. A measure I often see in my research into organisations is introducing consequences for repeated reports of unacceptable behaviour. This can include intimidating language or demanding at the last minute to be made the first author of a PhD candidate’s article.

‘For example, a professor could be barred from applying for research grants for three years. What I think would also help would be to build teams around professors that include permanent staff rather than relying solely on postdocs and PhD candidates. That would create a safer environment for raising concerns.’

Want to know more about or get involved in preventing unacceptable behaviour? The university is hosting several events in November:

 

This website uses cookies.  More information.