Sexual Harassment and Sexism

Sexual harassment starts when personal boundaries are crossed.

Sexual harassment includes any sexually connotated behavior that is unwanted by the person affected and perceived as offensive and degrading. This includes offensive comments about appearance or private life, unwanted touching and corresponding attempts, among other things.

Affected individuals experience sexual harassment as degrading. Therefore, it differs fundamentally from a flirt or a compliment. Sexual harassment is often perceived as offensive and leads to stress and insecurity, which also affects everyday work and study life.

Sexual harassment is less a matter of sexuality than of power. Universities are no exception, as existing relationships of dependency are at times exploited. It is therefore particularly important in higher education to address violations of boundaries openly.

Many victims repress sexism or sexual harassment in fear of being perceived as prudish, oversensitive or humourless. However, ignoring an incident or coming up with a quick-witted response usually does nothing to change the inappropriate behaviour.

We recommend to make your position clear as soon as possible using direct language. Remember that you are not alone and that you are not to blame. Do not ignore or brush aside incidents of sexual harassment; instead, take action and support others who are affected if you witness someone violating boundaries.

Immediate steps:

• Make your position clear and signal that the behaviour is unwanted.
• Record all incidents of sexual harassment in written form.
• Speak to someone you trust and contact one of the counselling services at LMU.

Dealing sensitively with the issue of sexual harassment is a sign of responsible leadership. Sexual harassment must not be tolerated, trivialized, or ignored by supervisors. If they recognize sexual harassment or are asked for help by employees, supervisors must take action.

LMU is committed to addressing the issue of sexual harassment openly and dedicated to promoting a study and work environment characterized by mutual respect. Sexual harassment is therefore not tolerated under any circumstances at LMU and will be punished accordingly.

Scientists are increasingly facing attacks in the digital space. Hate speech, hostility and threats, which occur both online and offline, make it difficult for some scientists to communicate certain research findings publicly. Therefore, strategies are needed to properly assess situations and respond appropriately to potential threats.

Counselling, support and information regarding digital violence:

scicommsupport (Website and consultation for scientists)
hateaid (consultation and legal support)