Lad Culture in Higher Education:
Challenges and opportunities in
nightlife and social settings
Minda Burgos-Lukes, Campaigns and Advocacy
Manager, NUS UK
`
What is Lad Culture?
The definition of Lad Culture
“A group or pack mentality residing in activities
such as sport and heavy alcohol consumption, and
‘banter’ which was often sexist, misogynist and
homophobic. It was also thought to be a
sexualized culture which involves the
objectification of women and rape-supportive
attitudes, and occasionally spilled over into sexual
harassment and violence.”
Lad Culture
Hidden Marks
March 2010: Hidden Marks – A study of women students’
experiences of harassment, stalking, violence and sexual
assault
1 in 7 - experienced a serious physical or sexual assault
during their time as a student
68% – victim of one or more kinds of sexual harassment on
campus during their time as a student
1 in 10 – victims of serious sexual assault reported they
were given alcohol or drugs against their will before the
attack
Hidden Marks
“… a man was being very abusive and violent outside the SU and
the bouncers would not help, even though one told me later he had
seen what was going on but was told not to get involved. I haven’t
felt able to go back to my SU since.”
“I have been repeatedly groped/smacked on my bottom on several
occasions whilst in student clubs and bars, and when I have
confronted the men they have either seemed
shocked/embarrassed that I didn’t like receiving this kind of
attention or have found it funny that I have been unhappy.”
“… The victims of these attacks have been forcibly removed from
the union because they seem to be inebriated by choice. These
women are left alone, unattended and incredibly vulnerable with
absolutely no provision for their safety.”
That’s what she said
“There are lots of people that are kind of lad by night, but
then are decent guys by day.”
“I don’t know anyone, any of my female friends who haven’t
had some kind of encounter that was harassment whether it
be verbal or physical since they’ve been at university.”
“…A friend who had some guy that even put his hand down
her pants on the dance floor… She told me when she got out
of the club… I’ve heard of a few friends who have had things
like that happen that have gone past a joke. I think guys
think it’s ok to do that.”
Since the research, NUS have:
October 2013: Lad Culture Consultation with Students’ Unions
February 2014: Lad Culture Summit
September 2014: Further research – Lad Culture and Sexism
March 2014: Lad Culture Strategy Team
June 2015: Lad Culture Audit
Sexism Sells – promoting sexism on
campus
Working together to challenge Lad
Culture
The National Lad Culture Strategy
• NUS working with Students, Students’ Union
staff, academics in UK institutions and other
organisations who have a vested interest in
tackling Lad Culture
Ambassador: Laura Bates, Everday Sexism
Team’s Values
The national Lad culture strategy team believe in an
approach that is:
•
•
•
•
•
Participant-led
Intersectional
Collaborative
Proactive
Collectively responsible
We are driven by encouraging everyone to be part of the
solution.
Aim of the Team
“We believe that tackling lad culture
will create a happier, safer, more
inclusive environment for all those
within the education communities.”
Team’s objectives
1. To support Students’ Unions and institutions to
map what lad culture current responses look
like in their environment
2. To facilitate the development and
implementation of resources to tackle lad
culture
3. To empower education communities to lead
their own institutional changes
Lad Culture Audit
•
•
•
•
Online Survey for students’ unions to audit themselves
and their institution on clarity, accessibility, attribution of
responsibility, development programme and outcome
where Lad Culture is concerned
35 Students’ Unions replied, with 19 completing the
audit in full by providing in supporting documents
Survey is anonymised – the Students’ Unions will get the
results and we will be able to create an average out of
those that completed the survey
10 Students’ Unions who completed the Audit will
become part of a pilot scheme to support them in
tackling lad culture
Alcohol Impact
‘Creating an institution wide approach to
responsible drinking on our campuses’
Accreditation criteria
Collaboration, commitment and intent
Norms and framing
Policy and operations
Community and partnerships
Innovative interventions and
differentiated approach
• Impact
•
•
•
•
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Alcohol Impact: contact details
NUS contact: Lucy Henry,
Alcohol Impact Programme
Manager
lucyann.henry@nus.org.uk
http://alcoholimpact.nus.org.uk
What can we do to challenge Lad
Culture in nightlife settings and
Other settings?
Video on Lad Culture
Video: https://youtu.be/Q97KkCJNa1U
Link to organisation: www.fixers.org.uk
Positive actions can create change
More headlines like this:
Lad Culture Is Harmful For Men Too: Males Peer Pressured Into Becoming
Sexual Predators
Huffington Post, February 2014
Can universities ever get rid of boozy, sexist lad culture?
The Telegraph, February 2014
A Third Of Females Have Been Discriminated Or Harassed At University
The Independent, September 2014
Lad culture thrives in our neoliberal universities
The Guardian, October 2014
Is new wave of lad culture damaging young men's attitudes to women?
The Daily Mail, November 2014
Six Times Student Lad Culture Was Taken Down In 2014
Huffington Post, January 2015
Less headlines like this:
Stirling University Hockey Team Filmed Chanting Sexist, 'Scary' Rants On Bus
Huffington Post, November 2013
Disbanded LSE men’s rugby club had history of racism and misogyny
The Guardian, October 2014
Students at top university taught vile song about necrophilia during freshers’
week
Daily Mail, October 2014
Edinburgh University Student Fraternity DKE-AS ‘Discussed Raping Members
of the Feminist Society’
Huffington Post, November 2014
Bikini student jelly wrestling returns despite 'sexism' complaints from uni
feminists
The Mirror, May 2015
A wish list…
• Create National guidance on tackling sexual harassment
and violence in Higher Education Institutions
• Cross-Campus Strategy on Lad Culture, Sexism and
Sexual Harassment – Can be built into Equality and
Diversity strategies
• Local Community Strategy – working with local services,
businesses and other agencies to look at how you can
tackle these issues within the community and promote
zero tolerance to sexual harassment and violence
• Alcohol Impact Scheme rolled out end self-sustaining
• Work across the education sector to identify preventative
strategies – from Primary school age up
Useful links:
NUS Hidden Marks Report:
http://www.nus.org.uk/Global/NUS_hidden_marks_r
eport_2nd_edition_web.pdf
NUS That’s What She Said Report:
http://www.nus.org.uk/Global/Campaigns/That's%2
0what%20she%20said%20full%20report%20Final%
20web.pdf
NUS Lad Culture Audit Report:
http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/resources/ladculture-audit-report
Thank you for listening!
Minda Burgos-Lukes
Email: Minda.burgos-lukes@nus.org.uk
Or ladculture@nus.org.uk