A ¡°culture of silence¡± surrounds sexual harassment in universities, a new study that surveyed students and employees at a major Swedish university has?shown.

Academics at Lund University in Malmo? distributed a questionnaire at their institution, basing their study on the responses of almost 500 employees and more than 2,000 students who said they had experienced sexual harassment at the university.

The results ¡°confirmed a culture of silence regarding [sexual harassment] in the university setting¡±, the authors write, with students less likely than employees to disclose or formally report harassment.

Less?than 40 per cent of employees said they had told someone else at the university about being sexually harassed, while?less than a fifth formally reported their experience. Among students, these figures dropped significantly: just over a tenth disclosed being harassed to someone else, and only 4 per cent made a formal report.

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The respondents were asked to specify the type of sexual harassment they experienced, with unwelcome comments, gestures and bodily contact among the most common forms described.

A finding of particular concern, co-author Per-Olof O?stergren told Times Higher Education, was the low rate of reporting or disclosure among students who experienced ¡°attempted or completed rape¡±: less than a quarter disclosed it to anyone else at the university, while only 8 per cent formally reported it.

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While gender did not appear to have a statistically significant impact on reporting frequency among either students or employees, age did, the researchers found. Among employees, respondents aged 40 or younger were more likely to report harassment, while older students reported ¡°to a considerably higher degree¡± than younger ones. International students were also more likely to disclose or report their harassment experiences than domestic students.

O?stergren, a professor of social medicine, said the study was inspired by ¡°the emergence of the #MeToo movement¡±, with his research group subsequently deciding to ¡°contribute with a scientific study on the phenomenon of sexual harassment which simultaneously could become a platform for action¡±.

One explanation for the lower reporting rates among students, O?stergren said, could be the environment in which they were sexually harassed: previous studies by the research group indicated that the majority of incidents took place at social events rather than in the immediate ¡°study environment¡±.

The ¡°less clear role of the university regarding students¡¯ social life¡±, the academics write, could prevent them from reporting. ¡°This is of great concern since [sexual harassment] in this context could have severe implications for students¡¯ psychosocial study environment at the university.¡±

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¡°This needs to be discussed by the university management and the representatives of the students, [such as] the student union,¡± O?stergren said.?

Jimmie Kristensson, a pro vice-chancellor at Lund University, told?THE?that the institution received early results from the study in 2020. ¡°[We] have since taken several measures and are continuously working on these issues,¡± he said.?

Initiatives include the creation of support teams to advise faculties and?students involved in organising social events?on sexual harassment. ¡°We have clarified where to turn to report and have clarified our internal processes in connection with reporting and investigation,¡± Kristensson added.

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com