Women Faculty at Risk: U.S. Professors Report on their Experiences with Student Incivility, Bullying, Aggression, and Sexual Attention

Abstract

In this study of a random sample of 524 professors (47% women, 83% White) from 100 colleges and universities across the United States, 91% reported at least one act of student incivility/bullying, 25% experienced at least one sexual behavior from a student, and 1-2% said a student had used or threatened them with violence in the past year. Women, minorities, younger faculty, and those with less experience and credentials reported more incivility/bullying from students. More women (63.3%) than men (50.2%) reported a serious incident of student incivility, bullying, aggression or sexual attention during their careers. Discussion includes recommendations for faculty and administrators concerning reporting, preventing, and handling such experiences.The word "bully" often brings to mind a schoolyard scene with a bigger, stronger, or more popular child menacing a smaller or weaker one. Similarly, a schema for "sexual harassment" involves an authority figure using a position of power to sexually coerce, intimidate, or extract favors from someone lower in status. In higher education, however, bullying

Women Faculty Distressed: Descriptions and Consequences of Academic Contrapower Harassment

“…Over the past five years, researchers have documented that ACPH is a routine part of being a professor in the 21 st century (DeSouza, 2011; Lampman, 2012; Lampman et al, 2009). Lampman et al (2009) surveyed all faculty ( n = 399; 61% response rate) at a public university about ACPH across their entire careers ; 96% of women faculty and 99% of men faculty reported at least one act of student incivility-bullying, and 26% of women faculty and 37% of men faculty reported unwanted sexual attention from a student.…”

“…Incivility was the most common form reported (96%), followed by sexual (31%), and racial-ethnic (11%) harassment. Most recently, Lampman (2012) surveyed a random sample of professors ( n = 524; 66% response rate) from 100 U.S. colleges and universities about ACPH experienced during the past year ; 91% reported at least one type of student incivility/bullying, 25% reported unwanted sexual attention from a student, and 1-2% said a student had been violent toward them or threatened them with violence. Although all of these researchers reported that most professors are likely to experience minor forms of ACPH (e.g., incivility) on a regular basis, the data present a mixed picture when it comes to faculty predictors of ACPH.…”

“…Investigators have studied a number of faculty predictors of ACPH in three recent studies, including demographic variables (gender, age, race/ethnicity, marital status), and variables related to faculty status/experience (years teaching, class size, highest degree, tenure status, type of appointment, academic rank, and type of college) (DeSouza, 2011; Lampman, 2012; Lampman et al, 2009). …”

“…Lampman (2012) conducted the most recent and comprehensive study of ACPH to date. She reported that women faculty members were significantly more likely than men faculty to report that they had experienced a serious incident of ACPH during their academic career.…”

“…Early research in this area focused on the sexual harassment of university faculty by students (Carroll & Ellis, 1989; DeSouza & Fansler, 2003; Matchen & DeSouza, 2000). More recently, however, researchers have conceptualized academic contrapower harassment (ACPH) more broadly to include student behaviors that are uncivil, rude, or disrespectful; challenge a professor's authority; use bullying, threats, or intimidation; are hostile or aggressive; or involve racial-ethnic or sexual harassment (DeSouza, 2011; Lampman, 2012; Lampman, Phelps, Beneke, & Campbell, 2009). …”