Sexual harassment in the sciences

On March 7, Professor Anna Kirkland, Ph.D. from the University of Michigan held a lecture titled “Improving Academic Campus Climates and Cultures Around Sexual Harassment” in the Norm Asbjornson Hall. The lecture was geared towards faculty with the intention of raising awareness of situations regarding sexual harassment within the science fields of various academic institutions.

Centered around this focus, the lecture overviewed a report made in June 2018 regarding issues of sexual harassment claims and the atmospheres and types of people that surround them. Professor Kirkland used a quote from Jennifer L. Berdahl that defines sexual harassment. Berdahl states that sexual harassment is “behavior that derogates, demeans or humiliates an individual based on that individual’s sex.”

Kirkland spoke about how sexual harassment in media often focuses entirely on sex and sexual assault, which she says is “misleading and narrow-minded.” She put the emphasis on discrimination that is not explicitly sexual in nature, but happens due to the basis of sex. These forms of discrimination are put-downs like name-calling, snide remarks, physical abuse and any nature of behavior that disrupts or devalues someone because of their gender.  

The form of sexual harassment most publicly known are come-ons, such as “unwanted flirting, repeated attempts at dates, sending unwanted explicit pictures and sexual assault,” Kirkland stated. Throughout the lecture, Kirkland was adamant that there were a few characteristics that enable an institution to have a higher probability of sexual harassment cases. These included a more male-dominated institutions tolerant of discriminatory behavior. In contrast, she suggested several improvements that could stop or diminish sexual harassment of faculty as well as students. These included improving the atmosphere of the institution, transparency and moves away from hierarchical systems.

As a result of the report, other improvements have occurred. The National Science Foundation and National Institutions of Health have both issued updated policies regarding sexual harassment for institutions that fall under their jurisdiction, such as MSU. For more information, and to read the report, visit www.nationalacademies.org/