Breaking the Silence: University of Edinburgh Students Confronting Sexual Violence Head On
Emily-Rose Coupe reflects on the enduring work of student activists at the University of Edinburgh campaigning for justice for sexual abuse survivors in our dossier on undergraduate feminisms.
Image: Demonstrators outside the University of Edinburgh’s Main Library 09/02/2023 (credit: Emily RC)
‘If becoming feminist cannot be separated from an experience of violence, of being wronged, then what brings us to feminism is what is potentially shattering.’
(Sara Ahmed, Living a Feminist Life, 2017: 22)
In 2018, Revolt Sexual Assault released the results of a survey, using a sample of 4,500 students from 153 different higher education institutions in the UK, revealing that 62% of students had encountered sexual violence of some kind at university; this number rose to 70% for female respondents. According to the report, only 6% of students who had experienced sexual violence reported it to their institution, and only 2% of those who did expressed satisfaction with the university’s handling of the situation.
These statistics show a significant disparity between the desired and actual university processes available to students who have experienced and/or reported sexual violence. This study raises concerns about the prevalence of sexual violence among UK university students, as well as the effectiveness of university responses.
In 2020 a petition demanding changes to the university's sexual violence redressal system gained over 60,000 signatures. Following that, a student-led campaign called #MeTooEdiUni was launched, and various protests have taken place since, including a week-long focus on the issue this year mobilised by undergraduate groups. A student-run Instagram account, @Edi_Anonymous was created a few years ago to share anonymous reports of sexual violence in the Edinburgh student community. Since then, the account has gained nearly 8000 followers, posted 245 times, and attracted media attention. A series of freedom of information requests in 2022 revealed that the University of Edinburgh had the highest number of reported cases of sexual violence among all Scottish universities over the previous five years.
The evidence is overwhelming. Sexual violence is rife on campus and institutions make themselves complicit in perpetuating this cycle of abuse by not taking accountability for the duty of care they owe to their students, forcing students to take action themselves.
Be that as it may, the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment at UK universities is not a new phenomenon, serving as a microcosm for the 'rape culture' that exists throughout society as a whole. Rape culture exists in a society that accepts and normalises sexual violence and abuse, resulting in ongoing sexual violence, significant underreporting of assault incidents, and widespread rape myths. The eroticisation of sexual violence, as well as the routine disbelief, shaming, or blaming of victims, results in a lack of accountability for perpetrators' behaviour, which is frequently excused or justified. How much longer will the institutions we pour our hard work, money and livelihood into, defend perpetrators and predators? How much longer will institutions allow perpetrators and predators to graduate from prestigious universities without a mark against their name?
When institutions fail us, we must fight for ourselves and work tirelessly to change the system that seeks to silence us.
At Girl* Up Edinburgh, we aspire to bring together like-minded individuals to discuss important issues, raise awareness, and influence change through consciousness-raising circles, weekly meetings, fundraisers, workshops, podcast episodes, and social media. In October 2022, Girl* Up Edinburgh launched a 'Survivors Collective' in partnership with the Edinburgh University Feminist Society and the University of Edinburgh Amnesty International Society. Three of our weekly meetings were dedicated to sexual assault, with workshops on supporting those who experienced sexual violence, understanding consent, and a panel discussion with survivors. Following this, the 'Survivors Collective' launched a social media campaign to support survivors of sexual violence by signposting to professional resources, creating conversation starters, and offering personal words of support written by our members. In November 2022, Girl* Up Edinburgh also collaborated with Women in Politics and International Relations to produce an interactive session in the student union promoting awareness for the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. As you can see, we at Girl* Up Edinburgh want to be the change we want to see.
Girl* Up Edinburgh's current committee and members continue to combat sexual violence on campus. If you are as eager as I am to be a part of the change that Girl Up Edinburgh is affecting, make sure to join us in September 2024!
Author Bio
Emily-Rose Coupe is a fourth-year social anthropology student at the University of Edinburgh, with a passion for gender studies. Emily held weekly discussion groups on feminist discourse and global issues affecting women when she was the Education Officer for Girl* Up Edinburgh. Emily wrote her undergraduate dissertation on community mobilisation and formation in response to the prevalence of sexual violence at university.