Here’s an encouraging sign for those of you looking for examples of the type of unambiguous policy about sexist remarks that we should expect from our colleges and universities. Last month, the University of North Dakota established a fan code of conduct for events in its sports arena. The rules are the school’s response to sexist and abusive comments hurled at a female news commentator and others traveling with an opposing team during a recent hockey game. One of the items on the list of prohibited activities reads as follows:
Abusive language or disorderly conduct is unacceptable and unwelcome. Profanity, racial or sexist comments or intimidating actions directed at the student-athletes, coaches or officials will not be tolerated.
Other good things apparently are happening at the university. Here’s the text of a 2006 speech to law students by Professor Jack Russell that explains in plain language why sexist and other hateful comments inhibit women students’ opportunity to get an education. (The speech was unrelated to the new policy for the university arena.) It’s his response to those who claim that school rules prohibiting hate speech (including racist and sexist remarks) stifle free speech. As he eloquently notes:
When you cultivate hateful acts, you interfere with [your colleagues’] ability to get an education as well as your own because you contribute to an environment of alienation and fragmentation. In the school context, the right to respect, the right not be offended, trumps the right to free speech, because you are part of a voluntary association that promises an equal opportunity to education to all who join. And if you hide behind the veil of the “politically incorrect,” you are not only interfering with the rights of others, you are also doing it in a dishonest and cowardly way. You are being hateful and lacking the courage to admit it.
If you find the foregoing helpful in addressing sexist remarks on campus, you might also check out Taking Action in College and University Settings, which offers a range of ideas for administrators, staff, professors, and students for addressing sexist remarks.
Of course, our best resource is each other. Share what you’re doing to provide a campus environment for students that is free of sexist remarks so that we can pool our ideas about what works and support each other’s efforts.
Steve
