The Politics of Sexual Violence in Universities as Represented in Policy Documents and #metooPhD

• In Event: 18.010 - Cross-Cutting Session 2. Trauma and Violence in Students' Lives: The Role of Education in Healing and Hurting

Abstract

Recent media about campus sexual assaults, coupled with governmental mandates, have identified sexual violence as a key policy issue. In Ontario, Canada, new legislation mandates post-secondary institutions to create formal processes to address sexual violence. We consider the politics of sexual violence as it is presented as an issue in different university spaces. Our mixed-methods study explores the issue of sexual violence through discourse analysis of university policy and digital methods analysis of #metooPhD tweets. Findings suggest a set of complex and contradictory politics is emerging between reporting mechanisms and relational politics. By concentrating on policy implementation, universities may repress relational knowledges about sexual violence that are essential in addressing the social and relational issue of violence on campuses.

Authors

• Melody Viczko, University of Western Ontario

• Rita Ann Gardiner, The University of Western Ontario

• Shannon McKechnie, The University of Western Ontario

• Hayley Finn, University of Western Ontario