Lad Culture in Higher Education Minda Burgos-Lukes, Campaigns and Advocacy Manager (Liberation) Sally Thomas, Policy Officer (Liberation) Susuana Amoah, Women’s Officer

` What is Lad Culture?

The definition of Lad Culture “A group or pack mentality residing in activities such as sport and heavy alcohol consumption, and ‘banter’ which was often sexist, misogynist and homophobic. It was also thought to be a sexualized culture which involves the objectification of women and rape-supportive attitudes, and occasionally spilled over into sexual harassment and violence.” This description has since had racism added to it.

Video on Lad Culture – Fixers UK Video: Link to organisation:

Lad Culture

Questions for you Have any of you experienced or have examples of ‘lad culture’ on campus? Does it fit in with the definition from ‘That’s what she said’ report? Are you doing anything on your campuses to tackle lad culture at the moment?

` Lad Culture: Knowing the facts

Hidden Marks March 2010: Hidden Marks – A study of women students’ experiences of harassment, stalking, violence and sexual assault 1 in 7 - experienced a serious physical or sexual assault during their time as a student 68% – victim of one or more kinds of sexual harassment on campus during their time as a student 1 in 10 – victims of serious sexual assault reported they were given alcohol or drugs against their will before the attack

Hidden Marks “I have been repeatedly groped/smacked on my bottom on several occasions whilst in student clubs and bars, and when I have confronted the men they have either seemed shocked/embarrassed that I didn’t like receiving this kind of attention or have found it funny that I have been unhappy.” “In the months following this I was not sure if I was raped using Rohypnol or not because I had never been told about how it feels etc. Part of the reason I never had the confidence to go to the police regarding the assault was because I wasn’t hundred percent sure I could confirm that I had had my drink spiked “One lecturer joked about how to cover up spiking a drink with a rape drug, then later mentioned they had been reported for misogyny and how that couldn't be true...”

That’s what she said “There are lots of people that are kind of lad by night, but then are decent guys by day.” “I don’t know anyone, any of my female friends who haven’t had some kind of encounter that was harassment whether it be verbal or physical since they’ve been at university.” “…A friend who had some guy that even put his hand down her pants on the dance floor… She told me when she got out of the club… I’ve heard of a few friends who have had things like that happen that have gone past a joke. I think guys think it’s ok to do that.”

Since the research, NUS have: October 2013: Lad Culture Consultation with Students’ Unions February 2014: Lad Culture Summit March 2014: Lad Culture Strategy Team September 2014: Further research – Lad Culture and Sexism June 2015: Lad Culture Audit July 2015: Lad Culture Strategy Pilot Scheme

Sexism Sells – promoting sexism on campus

Working together to challenge Lad Culture

The National Lad Culture Strategy NUS working with Students, Students’ Union staff, academics in UK institutions and other organisations who have a vested interest in tackling Lad Culture Ambassador: Laura Bates, Everday Sexism

Team’s Values The national Lad culture strategy team believe in an approach that is: Participant-led Intersectional Collaborative Proactive Collectively responsible We are driven by encouraging everyone to be part of the solution.

Aim of the Team “We believe that tackling lad culture will create a happier, safer, more inclusive environment for all those within the education communities.”

Team’s objectives 1.To support Students’ Unions and institutions to map what lad culture current responses look like in their environment 2.To facilitate the development and implementation of resources to tackle lad culture 3.To empower education communities to lead their own institutional changes

Lad Culture Audit Online survey for students’ unions to audit themselves and what policies, training and victim support programmes they had in place to tackle lad culture. 35 Students’ Unions replied to the survey and 20 completed the audit in full by providing supporting documents Ranked on a scale of 1 (worst) and five (best) according to how well they met our five criteria: clarity, accessibility, attribution of responsibility, development of programme and outcome. Survey is anonymized –SUs will get the results and we will be able to create an average out of those that completed the survey 10 Students’ Unions who completed the Audit will become part of a pilot scheme to support them in tackling lad culture

Key findings Policy High proportion of SUs and institutions had E&D policy and bullying and harassment policies Just over half of institutions (51%) had policy on sexual harassment. 65% of SUs this policy. 48% of SUs had a policy on the display of sexist/ discriminatory material. Only 1 in 10 HEIs had a policy on this. Twice as many SUs had a zero tolerance policy than HEIs. Less that half of SUs had a safe space policy (42%) dignity at work (39%) or alcohol abuse programme (35%) Lack of clarity and appropriateness of complaints and disciplinary procedures Lack of promotion of policy

Key findings Training and education 1 in 10 SUs provide training on lad culture (11%) and only a third run (sexual) consent workshops (32%). Only 6% of institutions have included consent in curriculum. Victim Support Programmes 100% SUs and 94% of institutions provided counselling services 11% of SUs provide support meeting groups 3% of institutions provide support meeting groups Rankings SUs 2.75 Institutions 2.65

What can we do to challenge Lad Culture?

Positive actions can create change

I HEART CONSENT

More headlines like this: Lad Culture Is Harmful For Men Too: Males Peer Pressured Into Becoming Sexual Predators Huffington Post, February 2014 Can universities ever get rid of boozy, sexist lad culture? The Telegraph, February 2014 A Third Of Females Have Been Discriminated Or Harassed At University The Independent, September 2014 Lad culture thrives in our neoliberal universities The Guardian, October 2014 Is new wave of lad culture damaging young men's attitudes to women? The Daily Mail, November 2014 Six Times Student Lad Culture Was Taken Down In 2014 Huffington Post, January 2015

Less headlines like this: Stirling University Hockey Team Filmed Chanting Sexist, 'Scary' Rants On Bus Huffington Post, November 2013 Disbanded LSE men’s rugby club had history of racism and misogyny The Guardian, October 2014 Students at top university taught vile song about necrophilia during freshers’ week Daily Mail, October 2014 Edinburgh University Student Fraternity DKE-AS ‘Discussed Raping Members of the Feminist Society’ Huffington Post, November 2014 Bikini student jelly wrestling returns despite 'sexism' complaints from uni feminists The Mirror, May 2015

A wish list… Create national guidance on tackling sexual harassment and violence in Higher Education Institutions Cross-Campus Strategy on Lad Culture, Sexism and Sexual Harassment – Can be built into Equality and Diversity strategies Local Community Strategy – working with local services, businesses and other agencies to look at how you can tackle these issues within the community and promote zero tolerance to sexual harassment and violence Alcohol Impact Scheme rolled out end self-sustaining Work across the education sector to identify preventative strategies – from Primary school age up

Activity Problem on campus: Lad Culture Root causes and outcomes Solution to Lad Culture on campus Think about: Who would you work with? What are your policies? What can you do? How can you let your students know about it?

Useful links: NUS Hidden Marks Report: eport_2nd_edition_web.pdf eport_2nd_edition_web.pdf NUS That’s What She Said Report: 0what%20she%20said%20full%20report%20Final% 20web.pdf NUS Lad Culture Audit Report: culture-audit-report

Thank you for listening! Lad Culture work: Minda: Susuana: Sally: