Lunch Talk From Awareness to Action: Working Together to Combat Sexual Harassment on Campuses

Sexual harassment is a societal issue that is linked to power dynamics and gender norms. On the one hand, universities are part of society; on the other hand, they are characterized by specific notions of success and specific power structures. At the same time, universities can leverage their capacity for self-reflection and their focus on lifelong learning and the education of young people to make progress toward fostering respectful interactions among one another.

Prof. Dirk Baier will deliver a keynote address on the empirical evidence of sexual harassment and the factors that contribute to it, particularly in universities. Following this, we will give the floor to Klara Sasse and Dr. Rachel Démolis, representatives of students and early-career researchers, to present their concerns and demands. Together, we will explore the following questions:

• How can those affected make their voices heard?

• How can preventive measures reach those who engage in inappropriate behavior?

• How can we move beyond power imbalances and engage in constructive dialogue across existing power differences?

• To what extent should universities take responsibility for inappropriate behavior among students?

If you are unable to attend in person at SQUARE, you can also follow the online event via this link (to be provided shortly)