Liverpool University, Everyday Sexism and a Very Timely Drama

Today my University, the University of Liverpool released a statement in regards to the release of a script written by members of it's Medical Society.  The script was crammed full of misogyny, sexism and characters like 'Dr No means No' and 'Mrs. SluttyPenny'.  The University have said;

‘We expect our students to comply with the University’s Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline and adhere to appropriate standards of behaviour. The University, the Guild of Students and the Liverpool Medical Students’ Society are shocked at the content of this material which is clearly unacceptable. ‘The University is investigating.  The University and the Guild will continue to work together in combatting sexism and sexual harassment.’

This isn't the first example of the society producing some pretty horrendous material that I don't even feel comfortable putting on here.  The script is for a show attended by students, doctors and faculty members.  If you clicked the link, you'll be as horrified as I am.

(11/11/14) - Today it has been clarified that three other scripts were entered into a vote to see which should be performed and the 'winner' was a reworking of Mulan which features a 'sexy Geisha dance'.  Further it has been made evident that members of the medical society have been banned from talking with press, though I have seen a tweets which read 'finally the LMSS get the press they deserve #disgusting'.  I fear there is maybe more to come.  

Today also saw the launch of the university-wide 'Call It Out' campaign, a campaign which is addressing both staff and students in an aim to call out on-campus sexism and bring it to an end, which by the looks of it couldn't have come about at a more appropriate time.

I've just returned from a talk by Laura Bates, of the Everyday Sexism Project (website) at the University of Liverpool, which was timed to coincide with the 'Call It Out' campaign.  She was fascinating.  Bates started the project "after a really bad week" in which she really began to note to the public dismissal of sexual assault, particularly after she was groped on a bus.

Some statistics she gave us include that there are more men currently in Parliament than there ever have been women.  That only 15% of commemorative statues are women.  Only 1 in every 5 front page news stories are written by women.  1 in every 3 women will be raped or beaten in her life.

Bates found the campaign skyrocketed unprecedentedly and she received 50,000 submissions in a year.  50,000 different stories of sexual assault and abuse from a mass of different people.  She described a 7 year old disabled girl and a 73 year old disabled woman telling almost identical stories of being screamed at in the street about being "women drivers".  Not only women wrote in, men told stories of being ridiculed for applying for paternity leave.

One thing Bates said really stuck with me.  She said what we are looking at is "Human Rights not Women's Rights".

Only 4% of women who are sexually assaulted whilst in university will report it to their institute.  When asked why they didn't answers included the words 'Shame', 'Embarrassment' and 'Self Blame'.

She highlighted the blame culture we live in, how girls are asked 'Were you drunk?'. 'What were you wearing?' and 'Did you lead him on?' after talking about sexual assault.  How has this become okay?  This trivialises the effect and seriousness of sexual assault.  This is a society who teach to not be raped rather than not to rape.

Bates closed by comparing sexism to climate change.  It's there, and if not everyone tries to fix it, it's not going to be fixed.

There's so much more I have left to say, so keep your eyes peeled for my write up for MyStudentStyle this week.

Here's a petition started by Everyday Sexism Project calling for all political party leaders to 'commit to making sex and relationships education in schools compulsory, to include sexual consent, healthy and respectful relationships, gender stereotypes and online pornography.  I've signed, and I'd like it if you could too.