About 50 <g data-gr-id="30">per cent</g> of students in UK universities have claimed that there are “sexist laddism” and a “culture of harassment” in their universities, a new study reported on Monday.
In light of the findings by <g data-gr-id="36">British National Union</g> of Students, the organisation has called on Britain’s?Women and Equalities Minister Jo Swinson to convene a summit on ‘lad culture’. ‘Lad culture’ is defined as a group of people indulging in <g data-gr-id="35">activies</g> often associated with heavy alcohol consumption, and ‘banter’ which was often sexist, misogynist and homophobic. The newly published report, “That’s what she said: Women students experiences of lad culture in higher education” brings together independently commissioned research from the University of Sussex examining ‘lad culture’ on campus.
The new research published reported that that 50 <g data-gr-id="27">per cent</g> of study participants identified “prevailing sexism, ‘laddism’ and a culture of harassment” at their universities.
Respondents described university education as ‘gendered’ and cited issues such as the characterisation or status of particular subjects, classroom interactions and negative attitudes towards feminism and gender-related topics.
‘Lad culture’ was thought to be particularly influential in the social side of university life.
Extracurricular activities and <g data-gr-id="29">sports in particular</g> were singled out as key sites, and it was reported that sexism in such environments could spill over into sexual harassment and humiliation.
For many participants, ‘lad culture’ had been significant in relation to their personal life.
Many reported misogynist jokes and ‘banter’ circulating in their friendship groups which made them feel uncomfortable, and pressures to engage in profuse sexual relationships which made it difficult to establish and maintain commitments.
Stories of sexual harassment and molestation were common, and there were also accounts of sexual violence. This included verbal harassment and ‘catcalling’, as well as physical harassment and sexual molestation.