Changing the Culture of Sexual Violence at UK Universities: A Website Analysis of Definitions, Report/Support and Prevent Mechanisms
Saved in:
| Title: | Changing the Culture of Sexual Violence at UK Universities: A Website Analysis of Definitions, Report/Support and Prevent Mechanisms |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Nicola Roberts (ORCID |
| Source: | Higher Education Policy. 2024 37(3):549-567. |
| Availability: | Palgrave Macmillan. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail:customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: http://www.palgrave.com/us/social-science/education |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Information Analyses |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Sexual Abuse, Rape, Violence, College Environment, School Culture, Prevention, Disclosure, Web Sites, Audiences, College Role, Definitions, Higher Education |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom |
| DOI: | 10.1057/s41307-023-00317-0 |
| ISSN: | 0952-8733 1740-3863 |
| Abstract: | The incidence and nature of sexual violence at UK universities has been aligned with a 'rape culture', where sexual violence is taken-for-granted. Calls to change such a culture permeate literature from government, charities, regulatory bodies, and academia. This paper pulls out of the literature the strategies called to change rape culture. Focusing on three overarching strategies: "naming" sexual violence, "reporting" sexual violence, and "preventing" sexual violence. We carried out a website analysis of all UK universities that focused on gathering data along these three themes to ascertain the extent to which their websites supported changing the culture of sexual violence at their university. Many universities' websites had an online reporting tool and defined sexual violence, but many universities' websites did not have information about bystander initiatives (the prevention strategy we focused on). The research raises implications for universities to enhance their website pages for in-person bystander initiatives and to standardise definitions of sexual violence used in online reporting tools. Consequently, more research is needed into what definitions of sexual violence are used, the type of language used and the efficacy of online reporting tools. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2024 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1435668 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The incidence and nature of sexual violence at UK universities has been aligned with a 'rape culture', where sexual violence is taken-for-granted. Calls to change such a culture permeate literature from government, charities, regulatory bodies, and academia. This paper pulls out of the literature the strategies called to change rape culture. Focusing on three overarching strategies: "naming" sexual violence, "reporting" sexual violence, and "preventing" sexual violence. We carried out a website analysis of all UK universities that focused on gathering data along these three themes to ascertain the extent to which their websites supported changing the culture of sexual violence at their university. Many universities' websites had an online reporting tool and defined sexual violence, but many universities' websites did not have information about bystander initiatives (the prevention strategy we focused on). The research raises implications for universities to enhance their website pages for in-person bystander initiatives and to standardise definitions of sexual violence used in online reporting tools. Consequently, more research is needed into what definitions of sexual violence are used, the type of language used and the efficacy of online reporting tools. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0952-8733 1740-3863 |
| DOI: | 10.1057/s41307-023-00317-0 |
