UNDERSTANDING AND ADDRESSING EVERYDAY SEXISMS

In 2021, a research team led by professor Mindy Blaise at Edith Cowan University was awarded Australian Research Council Discovery Project funding for a project entitled Understanding and Addressing Everyday Sexisms in Australian Universities. In order to investigate this topic, the team adopted a 4 phase, mixed methods approach that involved:

• An audit of all 39 of Australian public university websites looking for gender equity policy and if, where the word ‘sexism’ appeared

• Interviews with key women and gender diverse stakeholders with diverse identity characteristics (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women; women of colour; sexuality diverse) working in relevant positions (STEM leaders, Equity Officers, Complaints Officers)

• Designing and distributing a mixed methods large-scale survey to 12 Australian universities (N = 1257 responses)

• Conducting three creative focus groups in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney 

All of the activities in this micro-credential draw from these research findings. 

Alongside project: Creative and PhD candidate Emma Fishwick created video, visual art and choreographic responses to the research. Her PhD, Slow Choreographies: addressing everyday sexisms through embodied creative methods, was confirmed in 2024 and was awarded the Lawrence McGrath prize for academic excellence (school of education, ECU) in 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: 

• The micro-credential is designed for desktop or tablet devices. Whilst it can be viewed on mobile devices some functions will be effected. 

• This micro-credential may have been sent to you by your workplace. However, none of the information, thoughts or comments you contribute will be shared with your workplace. The data you share will only be read by the research team behind the micro-credential to improve their understanding of everyday sexisms in the workplace.