How to Call It Out
This week is dedicated to the launch of the next phase in our Call it Out campaign.
Now in its third year, the campaign aims to stop sexual harassment and assault by raising awareness of what counts as this type of behaviour, and encouraging students to call it out if and when they witness it.
A lot has happened since this time last year. Across the country, students have been campaigning on this issue, and many universities have decided to take action. Vice Chancellor Janet Beer is committed to tackling the issue, and has been involved in much of the national work which has taken place over the past couple of years. Last year, she was part of a national taskforce, run by Universities UK, which looked into the serious issues of violence against women, and harassment and hate crime affecting university students. The taskforce has made a series of recommendations requiring universities to take allegations of sexual assault more seriously and ensure there is support in place for students who come forward. To make this happen, our University has set up a Safe and Welcoming Campus Environment Board, which includes Guild representatives. They are tasked with making sure that the University is able to deal with allegations and investigations in a sensitive, appropriate way.
We want to keep that conversation going. The next phase of our campaign will focus on how to call out sexual harassment on campus.
Here's some ways that you can Call It Out
Speak Up
It can be very difficult to challenge people, especially if you want to avoid conflict. But for a moment of awkwardness it will make a big difference in the long term, and will help encourage them to think consequences of what they say.
Educate
Make people aware of what they are actually saying. If you hear someone saying a woman in a short skirt ‘is asking for it’ – tell them that’s only the case if she actually says ‘I’m asking for it’ – and comments like that make it seem like she is giving her consent to sexual advances, but she isn’t.
Ask Questions
Try to understand why they think these comments or jokes are appropriate. If someone tells a sexist joke you could ask ‘I don’t get it, why is it funny?’ and make them explain the joke – this which will reveal its underlying premise that says sexual harassment is okay, and you can then tell them it isn’t.
Use Humour
Diffuse the situation and highlight the absurdity of what the person said. Check out this Everyday Sexism article for inspiration on how to respond with humour- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/womens-blog/2013/nov/22/feminists-humour-sexism-laugh-tweet-misogyny
Get Help
If you’re around the Guild and spot behaviour that concerns you, please speak to a member of staff who will be able to assist you.
If you see it, call it out - it is only by consistently challenging this behaviour that we can make campus safe and welcoming for all students.
For more information, please visit www.liverpoolguild.org/callitout
