Confronting Sexual Violence at the University of Oxford

Abigail Burman

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1 National Union of Students (2010) ‘Hidden Marks: A Study of Women Student’s Experiences of Harassment, Stalking, Violence and Sexual Assault’. London: NUS.

2 Feltes, T et al. (2012) ‘Gender-based violence, stalking, and fear of crime (EU project report)’. Bochum: European Commission.

under such intoxication you are more likely to …

• Be sexually assaulted or raped (N.B. this is very much the assaulter/rapist’s fault – we categorically don’t victim-blame here at Corpus. It’s just wise to be careful.)

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Cultural Silence

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1 Corpus Christi JCR, “Corpus JCR Welfare Guide” (Corpus Christi JCR, 2013).

Is there a rape epidemic happening?“ ”

Cultural Silence

Institutional Silence

Who do you go to?

What can they do?

What do they have to do?

How will decisions be made?

It’s a pity you didn’t have it in you to just give him a hard

squeeze.“ ”

Institutional Silence

1 It Happens Here, “Stories of Sexual Violence & a Victim-Blaming University” (It Happens Here, November 2013), http://ithappenshereoxford.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/it-happens-here-zine.pdf.

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Awareness•Online resource hub•Tumblr of survivors’ stories•Events

Education•Fresher’s Week consent workshops•Good Lad positive masculinity workshops

Advocacy•Explicit institutional stance against sexual violence•Clear policies on reporting and support