In the United States, academia has the second highest rates of sexual violence reported in the workplace, following only the military (NASEM, 2018). Because of the unique nature of fieldwork, fieldwork settings can be particularly vulnerable places for sexual violence to occur (Clancy et al., 2014).
What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and stalking. We consider sexual harassment under the umbrella of sexual violence, because of the pattern of behavioral escalation from harassment to assault.
Prevention
The best way to prevent sexual violence from occuring is to focus on building a positive organizational climate. Organizational climate is a term to describe the shared rules and norms of a workplace setting. The reason organization climate is so important is because it is the strongest predictor of the likelihood of sexual violence occuring (NASEM, 2018).
How to build positive organizational climate:
Early prevention training with field teams
Bystander intervention trainings
Building community agreements with your entire field team
Establishing high levels of communication amongst team members
Considering sexual violence as a part of your field safety plan and emergency medical protocols
Response
If an incident of sexual violence occurs in your field setting, the most important thing to do is to support the survivor. For example, you can say, “Thank you for sharing this with me. I believe you and this was not your fault. I am so sorry that this happened and I am here to support you.”
It should always be a survivor’s choice whether or not they want to report, but you may be a “responsible employee” or “mandated reporter”, meaning you are legally required to report instances of sexual violence if you become aware of them. If you are a responsible employee, ensure that everyone on your team knows this! If someone starts to share something that sounds like it might be related to sexual violence, we recommend gently interrupting them and saying, “Before you continue, I need you to be aware that I am a responsible employee and am legally obligated to report instances of sexual violence. I am here to support you, but I can also refer you to confidential resources.”
Do not push survivors to report even if you think it’s best. You should always refer the survivor to confidential resources (listed below) and, in cases of rape, offer to take them to medical treatment.
Incidents of sexual assault should be treated as medical emergencies and should lead to the entire team evacuating your field site as soon as possible, if the survivor consents.
Resources
CONFIDENTIAL RESOURCES:
Confidential resources are available whether or not you report.
(UCD)
Center for Advocacy, Resources, and Education (CARE):
Phone: (530) 752-3299
Email: ucdcare@ucdavis.edu
Counseling Services
24-Hour Counseling Consultation: (530) 752-0871
Appointments Line: (530) 752-0871
Ombud’s Office
Phone: (530) 754-7233
Website: http://ombuds.ucdavis.edu
LGBTQIA+ Center
Phone: 530-752-2452
Email: lgbtqia@ucdavis.edu
Website: https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/
(Yolo & Sacramento Counties)
Empower Yolo
24-Hour Crisis Line: (530) 662-1133
Website: http://empoweryolo.org
My Sister’s House
24-Hour Multilingual Help Line: (916) 428-3271
Email: info@my-sisters-house.org
Website: http://www.my-sisters-house.org/
(National)
Title IX Hotline: 1-888-TITLE-06 (1-888-848-5306)
National Sexual Assault Hotline [RAINN]: Call 1-800-656-4673
REPORTING (NON-CONFIDENTIAL) RESOURCES:
These reporting channels are not confidential. It is always a survivor’s decision whether or not they want to report. A survivor can report to the University only, the city/county only, or report to both. We strongly recommend speaking with a confidential advocate from one of the above resources to help you decide what is best for you.
UCD Police Department
Emergency Phone: 911 or (530) 752-1230
Non-Emergency Phone: (530) 752-2677
Website: http://police.ucdavis.edu
City of Davis Police Department
Emergency Phone: 911 or (530) 758-3600
Non-Emergency Phone: (530) 747-5400
Harassment & Discrimination Assistance & Prevention Program (HDAPP)
Phone: (530) 747-3864
Anonymous Line: (530) 747-3865
Website: https://hdapp.ucdavis.edu
Title IX Officer
Wendi Delmendo
(530) 752-9466
compliance@ucdavis.edu
wjdelmendo@ucdavis.edu
Workplace Violence Prevention
Workplace Violence Prevention - Davis Campus | Human Resources (ucdavis.edu)
WorkplaceViolencePrevention@ucdavis.edu
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: