Argument 6: “This is just a small number of bad individuals, not a systemic issue.” Minimising gender-based violence as the fault of a few individuals can be a defence mechanism for institutions attempting to protect its reputation.
A common resistance to addressing gender-based violence is the argument that institutions should focus on real issues like education, not social issues like gender-based violence, but what does academic excellence mean if students and staff do not feel safe?
UniSAFE’s policy mapping found that although the majority of institutions report having policies addressing gender-based violence, few have comprehensive implementation frameworks.
This series aims to support change agents by reframing arguments commonly encountered and help navigate challenging conversations with clarity and confidence. Argument #1: “Gender-based violence doesn’t occur in our institution.”
On 21 February the GenderSAFE Community of Practice gathered for a meeting titled Shifting the burden — (Working) towards victim/survivor-centred policies in current university practices.
