Holding the institution accountable: Examining institutionalized barriers to reporting sexual harassment in Indian universities

Sexual harassment within Indian higher educational institutions (HEIs) is not a recent phenomenon, however, the ubiquity of such misbehaviors was only recently exposed to the public. Despite the threat of sexual harassment in campuses, reporting of such misbehaviors remains a grave concern. In this presentation, I examine the institutionalized barriers that prevent reporting of sexual harassment by using the institutional annual data on sexual harassment, in-depth interviews, and ethnographic participant observations. Using the conceptual framework of non performativity and gendered organizations, this analysis spot lights the inefficient institutional response and poor organizational climate that creates high and complex institutionalized barriers to reporting sexual harassment. Moreover, this analysis brings forth students’ views on institutional practices and their choices around reporting sexual harassment. This form of analysis is critical for higher educational institutions to evaluate their current approach towards sexual misconduct in their campuses. 

About the Speaker

Sheetal Digari is a PhD candidate in Comparative and International Development Education and an ICGC scholar at University of Minnesota. She has a MS in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University. Her scholarly interest is in gender and education, international education, and educational policy. She can be reached at digar001@umn.edu

Zoom link: https://umn.zoom.us/j/97305701272