BACKGROUND
Why Study Sexual Harassment at UC Libraries?
A 2018 pilot study that surveyed UCSF Library staff about sexual harassment experiences found that 48% of respondents had experienced sexual harassment at work. A recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) identifies sexual harassment as an existential threat to the gains that have been made in women’s participation in the workforce, noting that 58% of academic employees report experiencing sexual harassment. Despite NASEM’s findings about the prevalence of this issue in academia, sexual harassment of academic library employees has not been comprehensively studied.
We conducted a research study to help us understand how sexual harassment is experienced by non-student employees who work in University of California Libraries.
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Study Goals
The aim of this study was to explore sexual harassment experiences of non-student library employees at the University of California. Our objectives were to:
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Measure sexual harassment experiences quantitatively, including types of behaviors experienced and user categories of those who exhibit behaviors, and qualitatively.
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Measure opinions of library staff regarding institutional support around sexual harassment.
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Produce policy and training recommendations for University of California Libraries based on this data.
Methods
We surveyed all eligible non-student employees who work in University of California Libraries (n=1610).*
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Participants completed an anonymous online survey that asked for information about sexual harassment behaviors they had experienced and/or observed in UC Libraries. Sexual harassment behaviors listed in the survey were developed through an iterative process involving feedback from our Advisory team, CARE advocates, and use of existing scales. Demographic information, including gender and UC campus, was also collected.
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The study team developed a study protocol prior to creating and disseminating the survey. To read more about our study design, data analysis techniques, and project plan, please view the full protocol.
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The Council of University Librarians (CoUL), Administrative Services Advisory Group (ASAG), and the Librarians Association of the University of California (LAUC) are aware of this investigator-led study which was approved by UCSF’s IRB for multi-campus distribution.
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*Eligible participants were either 1) a non-student employee working in a UC Library that reports to the University Librarian or 2) a member of LAUC; other affiliate library employees were not eligible.