Sexualised harassment & violence

Sexual harassment is a profound attack on a person's identity and dignity. For this reason, the University of Koblenz has a clear zero-tolerance stance towards sexualised harassment and violence.

If you are nevertheless affected by sexualised harassment or violence in the course of your work as an employee or student, you should not remain silent about it. Even if attacks of this kind are often associated with shame on the part of those affected, you are not to blame!

Talking about what you have experienced helps you to process the experience. However, we can only help you if you contact us - confidentially, of course, and anonymously if necessary. This will not only protect you but also others from having the same experience again in the same environment in the future.

If you are unsure whether your experience "really" constitutes sexualised harassment, you will find information on this page about what constitutes sexualised harassment and violence. Handouts and guidelines on preventing and dealing with sexualised harassment and violence also help with classification and make it clear what action you and we can take against the perpetrators of these acts. On this page you will also find the ways in which you can contact us (also anonymously). We have also compiled a list of counselling centres within and outside the university here.

Furthermore, the AStA departments Queer sowie intersektionaler Feminismus provide student counseling services.

Was that sexualised harassment/violence at all?

According to a handout from the Federal Conference of Women's and Equal Opportunities Officers at Universities (bukof), sexualised discrimination and violence (SDG) "is practised in a variety of ways, verbally, non-verbally and/or through physical attacks. All behaviour and actions that are offensive, humiliating, undesired by those affected and experienced as derogatory and degrading are considered SDG (AGG §3, para. 4). SDG has nothing to do with sexuality, but with power: The gain in pleasure lies in the exercise of power over dependents and in the humiliation of the victim. SDG can be experienced differently from person to person. The topic always goes hand in hand with self-doubt, feelings of guilt and deeply felt shame. Many also remain silent out of fear, e.g. so as not to jeopardise their professorship appointment. Very few can immediately categorise what has happened to them and look for the fault in themselves. Women tend to react defensively because they fear, not entirely unfounded, that they will not be believed."