Stopping Gender-based Violence in Higher Education

Stopping Gender-based Violence in Higher Education provides a unique insight into how gender-based violence at universities is impacting students and staff and outlines the path toward tangible changes that can prevent it. Bringing together perspectives from academics, activists, practitioners, and university administrators, the book presents a diverse range of voices to constructively critique the field. Structured in three parts, the book begins by addressing the context, theory, and law that stipulates how universities can effectively respond to reports of gender-based violence. It goes on to discuss the most pragmatic ways to address the issue while contributing to prevention and supporting victim-survivors. Finally, the book advocates for the development of beneficial working partnerships with key external services available to university communities and also working with students as partners in an ethical and safe way. Throughout the book, contributors are invited to demonstrate a comprehensive institution-wide and trauma-informed approach to centre the needs of the victim-survivor and prioritize resources to undertake this vital work. Each chapter ends with a brief summary of key points or recommendations and suggested further reading on the chapter topic. Although the authors draw on research and policy from the UK Higher Education sector, the insights will be a useful resource for those in universities around the world. This book is an essential reference point and resource for professionals, academics, and students in Higher Education, as well as indispensable reading for activists, policymakers, police, rape crisis groups, and other organisations supporting these universities who want to make meaningful change in reducing, responding to, and preventing gender-based violence in Higher Education.

Clarissa J. Humphreys is a practitioner, trainer, and leading authority on addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in Higher Education. She is currently the Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Manager at Durham University and has clinical experience working with survivors and perpetrators of GBV and with individuals with acute mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use issues. Graham J. Towl is Professor of Forensic Psychology at Durham University and a former Chief Psychologist at the Ministry of Justice. He was peer (British Psychological Society) nominated as the most influential UK forensic psychologist. His publications on sexual violence at universities include two co-authored books and numerous blogs and articles in Higher Education outlets.

Table of Contents Contributors List of Abbreviations List of Tables List of Figures - Introduction: We still have work to do Clarissa J. Humphreys and Graham J. Towl Part 1 Context, Theory and Law - The significance of culture in the prevention of gender-based violence in universities Melanie McCarry, Cassandra Jones and Anni Donaldson - Hidden marks: The contribution of student leaders to tackling gender-based violence on campus Jim Dickinson and Sunday Blake - Intersectional approaches to gender-based violence in universities: Experiences and interventions Geetanjali Gangoli and Cassandra Jones - Violence and abuse, universities and LGBTQ+ students Catherine Donovan and Nicola Roberts - Perceptions of consent in UK Higher Education: Implications for policy and training Ngozi Anyadike-Danes - Sexual violence in Higher Education: Prevalence and characteristics of perpetrators Samuel T. Hales - The legal framework: Limitations and opportunities Rachel Fenton and Janet Keliher Part 2 Practice - EmilyTest: From tragedy to change Fiona Drouet and Poppy Gerrard-Abbott - Comprehensive institution-wide approach: What is means to be comprehensive Clarissa J. Humphreys and Graham J. Towl - Staff sexual misconduct in Higher Education: Impacts, responses and challenges Anna Bull - Case management as a dedicated role responding to gender-based violence in Higher Education Kelly Prince and Peta Franklin-Corben - Investigation and interviewing: Responding to formal reports of sexual violence in Higher Education Carl Norcliffe and Andrea Pescod - Primary prevention in Higher Education: Progress and opportunity Kelsey Paske - Reflections on accessing and reporting on employee wellbeing data: Implications for hybrid-working and gender-based violence Rosanna Bellini - We should do something (someday): Identifying and working through resistance to gender-based violence prevention Clarissa J. Humphreys and Graham J. Towl Part 3 Partnerships - How to involve students in work on gender-based violence Sunday Blake and Jim Dickinson - Gender-based violence and Higher Education partnerships with sexual assault services Elizabeth Hughes and Tammi Walker - Rape Crisis: Taking a partnership approach to addressing gender-based violence with universities and colleges across Scotland Niamh Kerr and Kathryn Dawson - The role of regulation in addressing gender-based violence in Higher Education Amy Norton and Graham J. Towl - Working with schools to tackle online harms and gender-based violence Andy Phippen and Emma Bond - Conclusion: Future directions in addressing our problem with gender-based violence in Higher Education Graham J. Towl and Clarissa J. Humphreys Index