The Harvey Weinstein scandal has provoked the most recent dialogue in the national conversation about sexual harassment experienced by women in the film industry. Countless stories of unwanted sexual remarks, violations of sexual boundaries and egregious acts of sexual violence have flooded social media followed by the hashtag #metoo, after news broke of Weinstein’s alleged long-standing history of predatory behavior toward women and his multiple abuses of power.
The courageous social media disclosures of survivors are a reminder of the endemic problem of sexual misconduct beyond the workplace.
In recent years, there has been increased awareness of the vulnerability of women of traditional college-age to sexual violence. Many women have described powerful college professors leveraging their status or initiating coercive control over students and untenured faculty who feel they must endure the uncomfortable remarks about their bodies, sexually suggestive conversa- tions, and pressure to comply with requests for sexual acts in exchange for better grades or equitable treatment.
These types of sexually harassing behaviors are “gateway” acts that create a culture that if unchecked, can lead to stalking, sexual violence and rape.
For more information on community and university resources is on the Office of Institutional Equity website,
hawaii.edu/titleix.
Such an imbalance of power also calls into question issues of consent. For example, the notion that a romantic or intimate relationship is truly consensual is suspect where one person has authority and power over the other’s grades or career opportuni- ties. Similarly, traditional college-aged women are vulnerable to other imbalances of power in an intimate-partner context given the high prevalence of domestic and dating violence among women ages 16-24.
Recognizing the prevalence and some of the unique considerations of the higher education context, universities have recently begun to build capacity to address domestic violence, dating violence and stalking among students.
While the University of Hawaii is not immune to sexual harassment and gender-based violence, we recognize that we must work in collaboration with the community to address these issues comprehensively. We have taken many steps to strengthen our institutional infrastructure to support survivors who have the courage to report or seek confidential assistance.
We have also established community partnerships with local organizations with expertise in addressing sexual misconduct and other forms of gender violence. We have developed statewide partnerships with agencies to provide confidential support and advocacy for our students and staff.
Under the leadership of UH President David Lassner, we have affirmed our commitment to maintain a safe community for students, staff and visitors of the university. Most recently, Lassner was awarded the Men’s March Against Violence’s Citizen of the Year Award, to acknowledge the university’s actions toward thoughtful, methodical steps in addressing gender-based violence.
His remarks at the Oct. 12 event reaffirmed this commitment: “ … a college campus should be a safe haven for everyone, especially someone who may be at risk at home. And for whom higher education offers the pathway to a better, safer future. This goes beyond check-the-box compliance. It’s about creating safe environments for all.”
The conversation must continue. It takes all of us to end all forms of gender-based violence and participate in an environment where each of us are free to experience our world with safety, dignity and respect.
Michelle Rocca is senior adviser and Jennifer Rose is director of the University of Hawaii Office of Institutional Equity.
