Asva launches #MeToo for education
With the hashtag #MeToo, people all over the world are sharing their experiences of sexual harassment. Tammie Schoots, chairman of Asva Student Union has now launched #MeTooOnderwijs (#MeTooEducation) to shed light on sexual harassment in higher education.
Schoots launched the hashtag together with Giulia Homs of Student Alliance Wageningen and Carmen Quint of student union Akku in Nijmegen. ‘It’s important to know if sexual intimidation and discrimination is happening in higher education,’ says Schoots. ‘A hashtag is a low-threshold way for women and men to open up about it.’ Schoots has experienced gendered discrimination, she says, but has heard many stories about sexual harassment in higher education. ‘If people share their experiences, it’s easier for us to do something about it.’
Threshold
The number of reported sexual harassments at the UvA is extremely low. ‘The threshold to share a personal experience with someone is very high,’ explains Schoots. ‘We need to show how big this problem is.’ Although Schoots has no estimate of the potential number of cases, she says: ‘I hope we can at least help the people looking for support.’
Schoots hopes that use of the hashtag will help start a conversation and shine a critical light on the issue. ‘No one should have to feel crummy. We study in order to develop ourselves and it’s important to ensure everyone feels safe.’
Have you experienced sexual intimidation in higher education? Let us know via redactie@folia.nl.
