Abuse of power in a small world
Unacceptable behavior in the workplace? The standards are changing, but not yet fast enough, says university professor Naomi Ellemers. She is chair of the KNAW committee that will advise on undesirable behavior in academia.
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Harassment, abuse of power, sexual harassment: many scientists have to deal with undesirable behavior in their careers. The AObprecursor to VAWO conducted research into social insecurity together with the FNV in 2019. The National Network of Women Professors also rang the bell that year. Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven then concluded that there is still a lot to be improved. She asked the KNAW science association for advice on how to prevent misconduct.
Because insecurity remains a topical topic in the academic world. Reported in mid-November Notice board about intimidation and deception in the psychology department at the VU University. Some employees even became overwrought or ended up in therapy. In September, measures were taken against a professor at the Radboud University for acting improperly.
How can it go wrong again and again?
“It shows that this is something we still don't know what to do with,” says Utrecht University Professor Naomi Ellemers, who is chair of the new KNAW advisory committee. “Everyone wants things to go well and there are all kinds of guidelines for this. How can it go wrong again and again? ”
Naomi Ellemers. Picture: Jack Tillmanns
Ellemers is a social and organizational psychologist and one of the founders of the action group Athena's Angels. In her field, a lot of research is done into misconduct in the workplace. “It shows that this has far-reaching consequences, not only for victims, but also for other colleagues in the department,” she says. "They lose their trust in the organization when they see this happening over and over and not acted upon."
But more and more is also known about the circumstances that promote and maintain undesirable behavior, Ellemers continues. “And so we also know better and better what to watch out for to combat this behavior. It would be great if we could use this knowledge to develop concrete measures. ”
Clean slate
Science is a special job, she thinks. “It is an international network, but at the same time also a very small world. Certainly in certain fields. It can just happen that you meet the same people throughout your career. "
If you get into a conflict with someone, you can suffer from it for a very long time
And that includes the people in important positions who assess publications, fill vacancies and write letters of recommendation. This can lead to inequality of power, says Ellemers. “If someone like that doesn't like your work, or if you get into a conflict with someone, it can bother you for a long time. You cannot just say: I will leave and start somewhere else with a clean slate, then I will never have to meet this person again. That makes the threshold for protesting against the way you are treated very high. "
'Doll'
The Athena's Angels website contains anonymous stories that make it clear that undesirable behavior can take many forms. “Almost all female scientists experience these kinds of things,” says Ellemers.
A pregnant PhD student was asked by her supervisor if she wanted to consider an abortion
For example, female professors who are supposed to be the secretary, or scientists who are called 'doll' or 'girl' by their male colleagues. Other examples go much further: a pregnant PhD student was asked by her supervisor if she wanted to consider an abortion.
For women, the experiences they report often have to do with sexuality, or pregnancy and childbirth, says Ellemers. "Fortunately, we now have more reason to say with such subjects: this is not okay, I can talk to people about that."
In any case, the subject of social insecurity provides interesting conversations between generations, she says. "The standards of what is acceptable behavior in the workplace are changing rapidly." That makes it all even more complicated. “People who have been around for some time still remember that something that is really no longer possible, was not considered such a problem before. Not so much fun, they would say, but it is part of the game. I've experienced it often enough myself: jokes that aren't funny at all, inappropriate allusions, well, you can draw it yourself. How bad that this still happens, I sometimes think. ”
Formal complaint
A frequently heard problem is that victims of transgressive behavior sometimes do not dare to file a formal complaint. Then we can't act against it either, react settings then. “The result is that there are guidelines and codes of conduct, but they are not actually enforced,” says Ellemers.
Still, it is good that there are rules, she thinks. “After all, someone who is accused of something must be able to defend himself. But you also don't want victims who rightly report a problem not to be helped. It's difficult to solve that, but our committee has yet to start its work, so I don't have the answers yet. ”
Ideally, people start talking to each other at a much earlier stage
Even if you are not going to make it with better rules alone, she expects. The KNAW committee will therefore have to take a close look at the culture within institutions, departments and departments. “Ideally, you want people to talk to each other at a much earlier stage,” says Ellemers. “That can be the supervisors and professors, but as an employee you should also be able to ask your superior: do you realize that what you say can come in hard? That is something people still find very difficult at the moment. ”
Optimistic
The committee's advice will be published at the end of 2021 and Ellemers is optimistic. “All parties I am in contact with now are not only highly motivated, but also frustrated, because what is being done now is not enough. I think that's a good starting point: things are not yet going as it should, but we all really want things to get better. ”
See also: 'University staff feel unsafe'
