The report on threats and harassment in Swedish universities and colleges, produced by the Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research at the University of Gothenburg in collaboration Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers (SULF) and the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF), has been disseminated and discussed in several articles, lectures and panel discussions since its release in December 2024. It is now also contributing to the ongoing investigation into strengthening individual academic freedom.
The survey shows that over 30 per cent of researchers and university teachers in each subject area had experienced some form of vulnerability. It also shows that female researchers and teachers are clearly more vulnerable than their male colleagues, especially by students, while men are more likely to be exposed by colleagues.
Need for more in-depth knowledge
Since the report was published, its author, David Brax, analyst at the Secretariat for Gender Research, has given lectures to equal treatment networks and university managements around the country. As this was the first major survey of its kind in Sweden, the report also highlighted areas where there are gaps in knowledge.
‘Now that we have a rough idea of the problem, we need to know more about how vulnerability manifests itself in specific situations, for example through case studies in the areas where we found the problem to be most acute and why those situations lead to threats and harassment,’ says David Brax.
Highest exposure in humanities and social sciences
Before the survey, it was thought that threats and hate speech mainly affected researchers who spoke out in the media and on social media. When the report came out, it showed that vulnerability mainly arises in supervision and teaching situations and between colleagues. The greatest vulnerability is reported in the humanities and social sciences, where 47 and 43 per cent respectively responded that they had experienced threats and/or harassment. There is therefore reason to look at these areas in particular, according to David Brax.
‘There may be several reasons why the humanities and social sciences are more vulnerable subject areas. It may be because these subjects are more interpretative, open and discussion-driven. At the same time, the resources for conducting research and education are also the least available in these areas, which can also lead to friction. Perhaps it is not the content, but rather the lack of resources to deal with student situations that creates greater vulnerability,’ he says.
Parallels to victimisation in politics
Recently, threats and harassment have been discussed in the media and public debate following the resignation of one of the main political party's leaders in Sweden due to threats and hate. Every year, the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (BRÅ) conducts a survey on politicians' safety. It shows that among politicians, 31 per cent of women and 28.3 per cent of men are subjected to threats and harassment. In academia, the difference is greater, with 10 per cent more women than men being exposed.
Fear of being exposed limits freedom of action
Exposure leads to people leaving their political positions. Of those who responded to the survey on the situation in higher education, 17 per cent of women and 16 per cent of men had considered leaving academia due to exposure to threats and harassment. Both the Politicians' Safety Survey and the report on vulnerability in higher education show that women are more affected by the threats and harassment they face, and that they restrict themselves more than men do to reduce the risk of being exposed.
‘The consequences of the fear of being exposed also greatly limit the scope for action. Our report highlights both the democratic aspect, where people are silenced as a result of deliberate campaigns by colleagues and students, and threats and harassment as a workplace issue where it is more a question of what you have the freedom to do,’ says David Brax.
