At the request of Mariëtte Hamer, the statistics institute CBS has shared figures regarding students and sexual misconduct. Hamer has been the government commissioner for sexual misconduct and sexual violence since 2022 and has been advocating for a cultural change in society for years.
According to the research, 47 per cent of female students in higher professional education (HBO) reported being victims in the twelve months preceding the survey. Among female university students (WO), that figure is 52 per cent. This is more than three times the national average for women.
According to CBS, this includes receiving unsolicited nude photos or being catcalled in the street. Physical sexual violence is also included. One in six female students in higher professional education and one in four female university students have been victims of this.
Everyday occurrence
Sexual harassment is indeed an everyday issue. On the street, the Hoger Onderwijs Persbureau spoke with two students from Leiden. Initially, they thought they had no experience with ‘sexual misconduct’ because ‘that sounds so severe’. But being catcalled in the street? “That happens so often!”
Then there’s nightlife, where female students are involuntarily kissed or have a hand placed on their bum. “I think boys don’t always notice”, one of them says.
A student of classical languages nearby points to the bangalijst, a list on which female students are rated on their appearance and performance in bed, as an example of the culture within student associations: “If that is the attitude of some men, then you should not be surprised about those figures.”
Student culture
The prevalence of these incidents is partly related to age, CBS chief sociologist Tanja Traag says. “Impulse control is not yet fully developed at this age.” However, she believes this is not the whole story. “When you read reports about hazing ceremonies, it seems that there is a very different culture of interaction.”
Traag also refers to the bangalijsten from the student corps in Utrecht. Meanwhile, women were referred to as ‘sperm buckets’ and ‘whores’ in the Amsterdam corps, as highlighted in recent scandals.
The perpetrator of sexual violence is often an acquaintance from socialising or dating, such as a fellow student. It is rare for this to be a teacher. Nevertheless, educational institutions are a ‘logical starting point for trying to effect change’, according to Traag. After all, the institution serves as ‘the connector for all these students’.
Aanpak
At the invitation of Mariëtte Hamer, king Willem-Alexander has met with students and staff from Leiden University to discuss the approach to sexual misconduct. Among the topics discussed was the Students’ Pact, which has been signed by several student associations. The pact aims to tackle sexual misconduct in student life. It is still too early to know if it is helping. “Cultural change takes time”, states Mariëtte Hamer.
Early last year, she advised that first-year students are well informed. “Because that is when students start experimenting“, she said. “Their own development is in full swing. The preparation of that education does not need to take much time: there are already many initiatives from which programmes can adopt ideas.”
