Study Reveals Gaps in Handling Harassment and Discrimination at Universities

A study commissioned by the Ministry of Women and Science highlights gaps in dealing with gender-based violence at universities and research institutions. For example, there is a lack of a common understanding of what gender-based violence actually means, said study author Johanna Blimlinger at a press conference on Monday. The responsible minister, Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ), wants to start implementing the recommendations from the study.

Different Rules and Unclear Responsibilities

There are already programs and structures at universities and research institutions that can be built upon, said Blimlinger. But: "The mere existence of policies and offerings is not enough." Uniform standards are lacking, responsibilities are unclear, and resources are insufficient. In addition, there are currently very different legal requirements - the protection for students is highly dependent on which higher education sector they study in. The commitment from leadership levels is too low, said study author Katrin Wladasch.

Structural Disadvantage and Violence in the Digital Space

At universities, gender-based violence occurs in the form of harassment and as structural disadvantage, explained Wladasch. Anyone who does not fit the classic image of the successful - male - scientist has a harder time at universities. A cultural change is needed, as many universities are still strongly shaped by patriarchal patterns. There is also a major problem with violence, especially from students against other students, in chat forums. Currently, there is little means to stop it.

Every Tenth Female Student Affected – Few Reports

The authors examined existing measures and support offerings, but not individual incidents or their frequency. However, in a survey by the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH) from 2022, more than every tenth female student reported having experienced sexual harassment at a university, Holzleitner noted. Gender-based violence is a "real, everyday risk in science" for both students and female employees. Only a fraction of those affected would report the incidents.

Recommendations in the National Action Plan

Holzleitner wants to "now move into implementation." Among other things, some measures derived from the study are already enshrined in the recently published National Action Plan (NAP) against violence against women. From 2026, minimum standards are to be implemented. Guidelines and regulations are well developed at some research institutions and universities, while at others they are hardly present, explained Blimlinger, highlighting the need for them. The NAP also includes the establishment of a uniform legal protection level for all students, clarification of sanction options for perpetrators from the student body, and the development of a guide showing where to turn in cases of violence and discrimination.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.