Gender Studies at the University of Sussex, commissioned by the NUS,
highlighted that there are a range of influences which shape a student’s
experience of university, and where ‘lad culture’ is present it remains an
influencing factor. This led the researchers to suggest that there was little in
place to deal with the behaviour and attitudes identified as creating this culture
on campus. A 2015 NUS poll of new students found that 17% of respondents had
been victims of some form of sexual harassment during their first week of term
and 29% had witnessed sexual harassment directed at someone else.
27. The NUS has defined ‘lad culture’ as ‘a group or pack mentality residing in
activities such as sport and heavy alcohol consumption and ‘banter’ which was
sexist, misogynist, or homophobic’.28 The Taskforce has not attempted to
formulate its own definition of ‘lad culture’ as much of the research in this area
has drawn upon the evidence provided by the NUS. Furthermore, the Taskforce
recognised that the term ‘lad culture’ can be problematic. It could create the
impression that what was being referred to was trivial and not serious, or lead to
an assumption that misogyny, racism and homophobia are specific to an
alcohol/sporting culture when they are present across all cultures and
demographics. It could also create unfair stereotypes. Although there is no
evidence to show that sexual harassment or homophobia is a direct result of ‘lad
culture’, it can result in the normalisation of sexist and misogynistic behaviour.
Moreover, this tacit acceptance of such behaviour can be unhelpful, resulting in
students being less likely to come forward to report an incident. The evidence
strongly advocates the importance of universities fostering tolerant, respectful
environments within which violence, harassment or hate crime of any kind has
no place.
28. A recently published survey (September 2016) by the alcohol education charity,
Drinkaware, asked 2,004 students across the UK about their experiences of a
night out. The survey found that 54% of 18 to 24-year-old female students
experienced sexual harassment on nights out. Of these women, half said that
this is experienced most or every time they go out. 15% of male students also
said they have experienced sexual harassment on a night out.29 Drinkaware and
UNILAD have teamed up to campaign against the normalisation of sexual
harassment, and to raise awareness of the role that alcohol can play in this. This
shows that the apparent link between alcohol and the normalisation of
behaviour which constitutes sexual harassment continues to exist among
students at universities. Although there is no official research to confirm this
link, the evidence reviewed and received by the Taskforce does strongly suggest
that incidents of sexual harassment often happen in conjunction with the
consumption of alcohol. This underlines the importance of wider society,
including entertainment venues, working in partnership with universities to
address such issues.
29. The Taskforce also received some evidence relating to staff-to-student sexual
harassment and violence. Although the primary focus of the Taskforce is
NUS, That’s what she said: women students’ experiences of ‘lad culture’ in higher education (2012).
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/press/students-call-for-universities-to-take-action-against-drunkensexual-harassment/. NB 18–24 year olds made up 1,853 of the total sample of 2,004.
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