Staff experiences of gender-based violence
Given what we know about how widespread many forms of gender-based violence (GBV) are, it is good practice to assume there will be survivors of GBV within the staff team.
Staff may be affected in a number of ways; they may have experienced a form of GBV in the past, or they may be living with a current situation for example in relation to domestic abuse, stalking, sexual violence or honour-based violence.
Staff may also experience GBV in the workplace itself – whether perpetrated by staff members, students, parents, carers or other members of the community – either online or in person. There is some research into the prevalence and nature of this violence:
- Teachers taking part in research focus groups reported that women staff as well as female students were subjected to ‘casual though often vindictive use of overtly sexualised and derogatory language - ‘slut’, skank’ and ‘whore’ were widely used against girls or women staff’ and ‘contemptuous attitudes’, which were sometimes accepted or endorsed by male staff. (EIS Get it Right for Girls, 2016)
- Research into women’s experiences in the workplace in general shows that just over half had experienced some form of sexual harassment, and just under a quarter had experienced some kind of unwanted sexual touching. The figure is higher for disabled women; 68% of those surveyed said they had been sexually harassed at work. (TUC, 2016)
As well as their own experiences, staff may also be affected by GBV perpetrated against a family member, partner or friend.
