Universities react poorly to sexual harassment reports, study finds

A new study reveals that students are being put off from reporting sexual harassment cases due to poor university responses.

The study, conducted by the Office for Students (OfS), found that only 13% of students who experience a form of sexual harassment while at university report it.

Men were also found to report a more positive experience when disclosing sexual harassment at university than women. 75% of men claimed their experience reporting to the university was positive overall, while 42% of women reported it as negative.

Speaking to Times Higher Education, University of Oxford lecturer Bridget Steele suggested women are less likely to be believed about their harassment, often receiving the blame for their own assault.

She said: “There has to be systems in place to be able to handle [a sexual assault] report in a trauma-informed way, and in a way that’s fair, balanced, and equitable.”

Many Warwick students expressed their fears of not being taken seriously, especially if there wasn’t an ‘obvious physical issue’

Steele identified the issue as structural, rather than individual, claiming the lack of resources and personnel reflects a lack of funding, “but it could partially be a reflection of how much the university prioritises this issue”.

Clarissa DiSantis from the University of Galway said the “shocking” figures reveal “university leaders are failing to keep students safe”.

An investigation conducted by The Boar in June found that some Warwick students feel intimidated by the male-dominated Community Safety team. The lack of female officers makes some students reluctant to report sexual harassment.

Many Warwick students expressed their fears of not being taken seriously, especially if there wasn’t an “obvious physical issue”.

Other studies of sexual harassment reports reveal that minorities are more likely to be subjected to abuse. A BBC investigation in September revealed reports of sexual harassment from almost half of LGBTQIA+ students, in comparison to 22% of heterosexual students.

Anna Bull, a campaigner against sexual violence at universities said the numbers of students experiencing sexual harassment are “unacceptable”. The higher number of incidents among women and LGBTQIA+ students reveals, in her opinion, that “higher education is not a safe or equal place”.

These flaws in university processes are likely to be worsened by the current higher education funding crisis.