‘It doesn't come as a surprise that it happens so often’

Statistics Netherlands (Dutch acronym: CBS) has shared figures on sexual misconduct among students, at the request of Mariëtte Hamer, the government commissioner for sexual misconduct and sexual violence. She advocates for a cultural change in this regard. 

According to CBS, 47 percent of women studying in universities of applied sciences had been victims of sexual misconduct in the twelve months before the survey. The figure is even higher at the research university level: 52 percent. That's more than three times the national average for women.

CBS' definition of sexual misconduct includes receiving unwanted nude pictures and being catcalled on the street, but it also includes physical violence of a sexual nature. One in six women studying at universities of applied sciences and one in four studying at research universities have experienced the latter.

Everyday
Sexual harassment is, indeed, commonplace. The Higher Education Press Agency (HOP) talked to two women who study in Leiden, approaching them on the street. At first, they said they had no experience with ‘sexual transgressive behaviour’, but they were only thinking about physical violence. But when the journalist asked them about catcalling, they said: 'That happens all the time.’ It isn't uncommon for students to be groped or kissed without their consent. ‘I don't think guys always realise what they're doing,’ says one of them.

After talking to the two students, HOP talked to a Classical Languages student, also from Leiden, who mentioned 'slut lists' as an example of the culture that predominates in student associations. ‘Considering some men have this attitude, the figures shouldn't come as a surprise.'

Social culture
According to CBS chief sociologist Tanja Traag, age is one of the factors behind the figures. ‘Impulse control is not yet fully developed at this age.’ But that's not the whole story. ‘If you read the reports about hazing, it seems like a completely different social culture prevails.’

Traag also mentions the 'slut list' made by Utrecht University students affiliated with USC, which rated women on their appearance and performance in bed. The Amsterdam counterpart of the fraternity refers to women as ‘sperm buckets’ and ‘whores’.

The perpetrators of sexual violence are usually someone the victim knows from going out or dating, mostly a fellow student. It is rare for teachers to be the perpetrators. Nevertheless, Traag finds that educational institutions are 'a good place to start trying to bring about change.' After all, the institution is ‘the connector for all students.’

Approach
Mariëtte Hamer also invited the Dutch king, Willem-Alexander, to discuss how to tackle sexual misconduct with students and staff at Leiden University. The Student Pact, a document signed by several student associations, was one of the topics they discussed. It is too early to know whether the pact is helping. ‘Cultural change takes time,’ says Mariëtte Hamer.

Last year, she recommended that institutions provide information about the topic to first-year students. “That's when they start experimenting,” she told HOP. 'Their development is in full swing. Preparing this content doesn't even have to take much time as there are many initiatives that programmes can adopt from each other.’