ADDRESSING EVERYDAY SEXISMS
POLICIES AND REPORTS
The following are some examples of policies or reports about gender equity in Australian universities. All Australian Universities are required to have a Gender Equity Plan.
Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education
On 23 February 2024, Education Ministers agreed to and released the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education (the Action Plan).
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)
2023 survey on sexual harassment, sexism, and gender-based bias in higher education.
SAGE Athena Swan
Athena Swan is an accreditation and awards program for gender equity, diversity and inclusion. The vision is for the Australian higher education and research sector to be global leaders in gender equity, diversity and inclusion, providing safe and equitable workplaces where people of all backgrounds and identities can flourish.
Gender equity and inclusion by design.
A toolkit for the Australian university sector 2022. Was designed as a resource to assist leaders in the Australian university sector to implement practices that support greater equity for women.
Change the course: National report on sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities.
HOW ARE DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION INITIATIVES PERCEIVED?
“I also feel like a token, often getting trotted out because I'm female.”
— White woman/gender diverse, CALD, LGBQA, working class background, working in HASS
“Sometimes I also feel more used as a ‘tool’ or ‘symbol’ for gender diversity, rather than being given a role in decision-making.”
— White Australian woman, working in STEM
“Gender equity in the academic sector is seriously held back by the unreasonable demands to work beyond paid hours. Something nearly impossible for carers.”
— Man, CALD, working in Business and Law
“I feel objectified and traded upon by a university that is preoccupied with obtaining, displaying and keeping scholars like me as if we were a zoo exhibit.”
— Woman, CALD, carer for aging or unwell parent, working in HASS
“Being queer, it’s something you might talk about once a year during the uni pride month but otherwise uni’s seem very happy to allow homophobia on campus.”
— Man, CALD, working in STEM
WHAT DO ACADEMICS THINK ABOUT THEIR INSTITUTION’S ABILITY TO ADDRESS EVERYDAY SEXISMS?
“On arrival in Australia I was appalled by the university claiming great strides in their Athena Swan certification which did not match the appalling state of conscious and unconscious bias amongst the academics and dare I say the leadership. When challenged I was told it was the way it is in Australia. I found the training courses in equity and equality pretty poor and superficial and nothing other than online.”
- White man, neurodiverse, living with a disability, parent/carer for children under 18, working in HASS
“It’s the unspoken and unwritten culture of the organisation that makes a difference. You can have policies and procedures to address every possible scenario but if the culture of the organisation endorses certain behaviours, then what is written on paper is meaningless. If the culture endorses sexism, or racism, or bullying then that is what will happen.”
- White woman, working class background, working in STEM
“I have huge student contact hours in the week (full time) and my time after work is for my kids. I do still work after they're in bed, but I'm tired and I can't just dump them with someone to do work or research on the weekends. So even thinking about making a complaint feels like they'll just say, well he's going the extra mile. I don't have any extra miles to give.”
- White Australian woman, carer for aging or unwell parent, working class background, working in HASS
“I think the University consumes gender diversity like an extractive material that can make their brand attractive.”
- White Australian non-binary person, carer for aging or unwell parent, working in STEM
“I sometimes feel like I'm just there to tick an equity box as a young female academic with children. The value is 1 way.”
— White Australian woman, parent/carer for children under 18, working in HASS
CAN YOU HEAR THAT BUZZING?
CAN YOU HEAR THAT BUZZING?
“There is no acknowledgement of my neurodivergence or background. It feels as though it is swept under the rug and seen as an annoyance.”
- Woman, Working Class, Neurodivergence, Working in STEM
