Student 'lad culture': the hidden victims of sexual abuse

university authorities had fewer than 100 cases of sexual harassment last year. Doing enough to respond to the misogyny of the students?

studying the "youth culture" has become a national issue. The phenomenon often associated with Unilad website has become a catch-all term for anything misogyny agitation drunk and abuse, including sexual abuse.

But despite numerous media reports on laddism, universities still have little idea of ??the magnitude of its effects.

new figures show 71 universities in the UK were aware of a total of less than 100 cases of sexual abuse and harassment last year. The data were published after the freedom of information requests guard and showed that only 98 cases were recorded by universities that responded.

many colleges said they were not aware of any incident at all, throughout 2012. Although some cases are recorded by the police, the figures show that the university authorities do not see the big picture of misogyny on campus.

a reluctance to report the facts means that the official figures mask what is a growing problem, said Laura Bates, founder of Project sexism, said: "A lot of women experience student sexual assault, unwanted sexual touching, groping and sexual harassment on a frequent basis.

"However, the standardization of" jokes lad and attitudes that stigmatize victims - both in the media and student social circles - the improbable students report these incidents or feel something so shame or guilt. incidents, or think they will not believe. "

activists say sites like Unilad, which has been criticized for joking that the violation was "Surprise sex" and Facebook pages of "spotting" where anonymous users to post comments on their peers to be endanger the safety and mental well-being of women.

• The problem of under-reported cases is not helped by the lack of detailed research on abuse.
• It was not until 2010 that the National University of Singapore has published the first national study of more experience bullying, harassment, violence and students of sexual assault. Marks indicate hidden surveyed 2,000 students and found that 1 in 7 had been the victim of a serious physical or sexual assault.

But it also revealed that only 4% of students had seriously sexually assaulted had informed the university. And only 10% said the police. Half of those who reported the incident said it was because he was embarrassed, while 43% said they thought they would be blamed for it.

Although research has been done since then, reports can be limited. A recent report on youth culture NUS, examined a wide range of topics from misogynist jokes about sexual violence among students. Although provided important information on the suffering and sexism in universities, the study only talked to 40 women, making it difficult to form a picture of the true extent of the problem.

However, a recent study by York University student union was five times more students about their experiences of sexual harassment. Once again, she found students were unlikely to report incidents. One respondent said: "Even though I informed a guard or someone like that ... I just said it was "exaggerated" "Another said:" It's my fault for being drunk and I paid the price. ".
Find best price for : --Student--