Harassment

Bullying and Harassment

What is bullying and harassment?

Harassment consists of engaging in unwanted and unwarranted conduct which has the purpose or effect of

  • Violating another person’s dignity or
  • Creating an intimidating hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for another person.

You do not need to have explicitly stated that the behaviour was unwanted, and the person engaging in this behaviour need not have had the intention of engaging in such conduct for the effects to be very real.

Bullying may be characterized as offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour or the misuse of power through means intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient. The full University policy can be found here.

If you are being bullied or harassed, help is available.

 

Who can help?

Anyone in the Philosophy Faculty (undergraduates, graduates, administrative or academic staff) can arrange to speak privately and in confidence to one of the Faculty's Harassment Advisors, whose details are provided below. 

They will help you to work out next steps and who to talk to, whatever you are experiencing and regardless of whether it is happening in a Faculty or a College situation. If you wish to speak to someone completely outside the Faculty you can contact the University Harassment Advisor Network.

 

What can you expect when you consult a Faculty Harassment Advisor?

  • You will be listened to without judgement and in confidence
  • You will be believed
  • You will be advised as to where to find further support
  • You will be advised as to possible next steps

There is a helpful summary of what a Harassment Advisor can and can't do here.

We understand that it can feel daunting to take the step of contacting a Harassment Adviser, but we are here to help and you should not hesitate to contact us.

Sexual Harassment

What is sexual harassment and sexual violence?

Sexual harassment and violence is any unwanted sexual behaviour which takes place without consent, whether someone knows the person or not. It may happen online for example on social media, via email or messaging.

Sexual harassment and violence can include:

  • Catcalling, wolf-whistling, leering, unwanted comments or jokes about a person’s body, clothing or sex-life;
  • Stalking someone or following them (in person or online);
  • Unwanted physical contact, such as groping, sexual assault, abuse or rape;
  • Abusive or coercive behaviour within a relationship;
  • Unwelcome sexual requests;
  • Non-consensual photos like up-skirting or sharing of explicit material.

Sexual harassment is usually directed at an individual, but this is not always the case. Sometimes there can be a culture of sexual harassment in a workplace or group that is not specifically aimed at one person, but still makes you feel uncomfortable. Someone can still make a complaint of sexual harassment in this situation.

If you have been the victim of sexual harassment and/or violence, help is available.

 

Who can help?

  • You can contact one of the Philosophy Faculty Harassment Advisors (details below) or the University Advisor Harassment Network.
  • You can contact the University Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service by email, where you can speak to trained specialist advisors, or an independent sexual violence advisor. There are female and male advisors and members of the team who identify as BAME and LGBTQ+.
  • There is a brief film available here telling you more about the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service.

 

What can you expect when you consult a Faculty Harassment Advisor?

  • You will be listened to without judgement and in confidence
  • You will be believed
  • You will be advised as to where to find further support
  • You will be advised as to possible next steps

There is a helpful summary of what a Harassment Advisor can and can't do here.

We understand that it can feel daunting to take the step of contacting a Harassment Adviser, but we are here to help and you should not hesitate to contact us.