Managers’ Perceptions of Sexual Violence on Campus and the Implications for Policy and Legal Requirements in Higher Education

Following an in-depth exploration of one University’s responses to sexual violence on campus, in this paper we argue that there is a gap between the legally required measures that Universities must take in this area and the measures that are actually taken. Policies, procedures, and support mechanisms for survivors of sexual violence and harassment are inadequate and fail to meet equality obligations. Further, University management teams’ attitudes towards sexual violence are dismissive and underpinned by racism and classism which explains the lack of progress made to tackle these issues. It is likely that these attitudes are indicative of wider higher education approaches to sexual violence and harassment which means that institutions are not only neglecting but breaching their legal duties. Universities must work to change the normative beliefs of management teams towards sexual violence and develop rigorous monitoring and reporting mechanisms.