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Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus

This research was funded by generous contributions to the AAUW Educational Foundation Eleanor Roosevelt Fund AAUW of Oregon also provided significant funds to support this research as part of the AAUW Building a Harassment-Free Campus initiative . January, 2006.

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Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus

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  1. This research was funded by generous contributions to the AAUW Educational Foundation Eleanor Roosevelt Fund AAUW of Oregon also provided significant funds to support this research as part of the AAUW Building a Harassment-Free Campus initiative. January, 2006 Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus A report of the AAUW Educational Foundation

  2. Background For more than a hundred years, AAUW has prospered by focusing on this simple message — educating girls and women helps individuals, their families, and society. Increasingly, a college education is essential for a woman’s economic security and independence.

  3. AAUW has been at the forefront of research on sexual harassment for more than a decade. AAUW is committed to promoting a campus climate that is free from gender bias and sexual harassment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to excel. Background

  4. Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus is based on a nationally representative online survey of 2,036 undergraduate college students, female and male, ages 18 to 24, conducted in May 2005. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive, one of the leading public opinion companies in the country. Research Methodology

  5. For the survey, sexual harassment was defined as “unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior that interferes with your life. Sexual harassment is not behaviors that you like or want.” Student respondents were asked to consider these behaviors only in the context of their college lives, e.g., in class, on campus, or at campus-related events. Research Methodology

  6. Research Findings Nearly Two-Thirds of College Students Say They Have Been Sexually Harassed on Campus

  7. 39% of harassed student say they are harassed in dorms or student housing 37% say they are harassed outside on campus grounds 24% say they are harassed in common areas of campus buildings 20% say they are harassed in classrooms or lecture halls Research Findings Sexual Harassment Happens All Over Campus

  8. Research Findings Sexual Harassment Happens at All Types of Colleges and Universities

  9. Research Findings Sexual Harassment Takes a Heavy Toll on Female Students

  10. Research Findings Harassers Tend to Think Their Behaviors Are Funny

  11. Research Findings Many Students Tell No One

  12. 79% of college students say their school has a sexual harassment policy in place 60% say that booklets, brochures and other written materials are available on campus 57% say that they would like their school to offer a web-based confidential method for submitting complaints about harassment Research Findings Policies and Brochures Are Common, But Not Enough

  13. UCF Survey Sample Characteristics

  14. UCF Campus Climate Among female respondents 21% worry about SEXUAL HARASSMENT ‘occasionally’ and 4.9% ‘a lot’ which is 10 times greater than male respondents who worry about sexual harassment occasionally (2.9%) and ‘a lot’ (0.49%)

  15. 25% of female students and 36% of male students said there was no sexual harassment on campus 53% of female students and 47% of male students indicated there was some but not a lot of sexual harassment on campus 21% of females and 17% of males indicated there was ‘a lot’ Perceived Sexual Harassment

  16. 67 % of respondents knew a friend who experienced sexual harassment 60% of respondents were the targets of sexual harassment 60% was non-physical and 34 % physical harassment Experienced Sexual Harassment at UCF

  17. The most frequent type were jokes, comments, gestures and looks experienced by 60% of females and 47% of males Being called ‘gay’. ‘lesbian’ or a homophobic name was reported by 32% of males and 12% of females A quarter of both males and females report being ‘mooned’ or ‘flashed’ Frequent Types of Non-contactSexual Harassment

  18. 29% of females report being touched or grabbed and or brushed against in a sexual way and experience ALL FORMS of unwanted contact more frequently than males 21% of males report being brushed against in a sexual way Frequent Types of ContactSexual Harassment

  19. 90% or more of female students indicated that they would be ‘very upset’ experiencing any type of sexual harassment Male students varied in frequency of this response from 64% for being touched to 90% for forced sexual activity Sexual Harassment is Upsetting and Disruptive

  20. 64% of females and 30% of males go out of their way to avoid a harasser One-fourth or more of women who who have been targets of harassment report trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, performing poorly in class, find it hard to study and ask someone to protect them Sexual Harassment is Upsetting and Disruptive

  21. 91% of females and 76% of males would report sexual harassment Females knew more campus resources than males and almost 90% cited Victim Services Most frequent contacts were with the police, Victim Services and Student Counseling and Student Health Only 25% of females and 9% of males would tell a friend What Do You Do If You are Harassed

  22. Provide a confidential website to report incidents More innovative education-(e.g., plays) More high profile speakers More information for new students Focus on certain campus groups Let students know there are consequences Building a Harassment-Free campus

  23. Conclusions According to students, sexual harassmentis “part of college life” and is “just the way it is.” Most students do not talk openly or seriously about sexual harassment. Yet many – particularly young women – are upset, angry, afraid, or disappointed in their college experience as a result.

  24. College students are shaping lifelong behaviors and attitudes that they will take with them into the work force and broader society. It is time for a candid and serious dialogue about campus sexual harassment – by students, faculty, parents, administrators, and the collective higher education community. Conclusions

  25. Taking Action AAUW has launched a new initiative, Building a Harassment Free Campus, to combat campus sexual harassment. Action projects are underway on eleven campuses around the country. A summit on sexual harassment is scheduled for June 7-10, 2006

  26. Learn more about Drawing the Lineand what you can do to address sexual harassment on college campuses at www.aauw.org/dtl. Dr. Leslie Sue Lieberman, Director Women’s Research Center, UCF 407-823-5142 llieberm@mail.ucf.edu www.cas.ucf.edu/womensresesrch/ Contacts

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