Sexual Harassment At University: Why It’s An Issue, And Why You Should Speak Up

Trigger warning: This article discusses sexual assault and harassment.

It’s one of the most exciting times in some of our lives, transitioning from high school to university. It’s essentially like opening up a fresh new chapter. You might even be packing up and moving to student accommodation, which makes things a touch more nerve-wracking too. You’ll be surrounded by a bunch of new faces in a wildly different environment; there’ll be a lot of changes to adjust to.

University is a whole new kettle of fish, to be honest. You’ll have to say bye-bye to the (relatively) safe confines of high school, and say hello to (sometimes) scary new surroundings.

It's not unreasonable to be nervous. In October, it was reported that there had been at least 575 formally reported sexual misconduct cases relating to Australian universities since 2011. Of those cases, only six resulted in expulsion; a further 14 led to suspensions.

Given these jarring statistics, I wanted to get a sense of what it’s like transitioning to university and coming to terms with campus sexual harassment and assault. I had a chat with Taylor Cohen, a recent university graduate who discovered a private Facebook page run by fellow students featuring explicit comments towards female peers. She shared her experiences of living on campus and the insights she gained throughout her university journey.

What it's like to live on campus.

Taylor had a less than pleasant experience living at her village (campus-based student accommodation). “It was very isolating for a young person who didn’t want to behave the same way [as other students]," she said.

She described having intoxicated people let themselves into her apartment if she forgot to lock the door: "Most of the time it felt unsafe, but you got used to it."

For so many young people, particularly women, the strong influence of frat culture can make their university experiences particularly volatile.

ABC's Four Corners broadcast a report looking into American fraternity culture, which described fraternities as "where testosterone, alcohol and campus life come together in a potent mix." There's also a strong emphasis on "getting" girls, to the point where it's seen as the "number one thing on [guys'] priority list".

Taylor describes frat culture as something viewed as a significant part of a young person's "coming of age" journey, even in Australia. “Young people not only believe that it is a part of becoming an adult… [they] also internalise the same behaviour, which of course, is associated with drug and alcohol abuse," she said, adding that, from her experience, these are factors which can lead to sexual harassment and assault.

What exactly is sexual harassment?

“I think a lot of young women aren’t entirely sure how to define sexual harassment," Taylor said. "I know when I moved on campus, I had no clue."

The Australian Human Rights Commission defines sexual harassment as: “Any unwanted or unwelcome sexual behaviour, which makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. [It] is not interaction, flirtation or friendship which is mutual or consensual.”

“Talk to your family and peers about sexual harassment and assault," Taylor advised. "Unless we talk about it people will never know the extent to which it happens, and then won't really take any action."

The Respect. Now. Always. campaign, a national survey partaken by 39 leading Australian universities, was a major step in opening up the conversation about student experiences of sexual harassment and assault. Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins has said, “one sexual assault on campus is one too many.”

The prevalence of reports indicates that we can't simply ignore the issue; rather, we need remediation.

If you've experienced sexual harassment...

"You and your friends need to make sure you take care of each other,” Taylor said. "Have plans in place that you action when you are in a bad situation, and make sure you stand up for each other.” It’s one of those things where, according to Taylor, there isn’t a clear-cut solution. “There’s no right and wrong [way of] protecting yourself; it will always depend on the situation.”

One thing is for sure though: If you (or someone you know) experiences some form of sexual harassment — don’t be frightened into silence. “Nothing will change unless people start calling out injustices,” she said.

If you would like to make an anonymous submission about an experience of sexual harassment or assault at university, you can do so here. The Australian Human Rights Commission will be collating submissions as part of the Respect. Now. Always. campaign. However, please note: Submissions will close on Friday, 2 December 2016. If you need an extension, you can email them.

If you need help, or want to talk with someone, specialist support is available by calling the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Photo: iStock