Considerations When Working with Marginalized Populations in Higher Education Environments

Presenters: Carrie Benson and Daniel Jacobson López

This workshop will provide community members with information on how to support survivors of sexual violence who belong to marginalized communities. The AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct (2019) found that at the University of Pittsburgh, 26% of undergraduate women, 26% of students with a disability, 24.5% of non-heterosexual students, and 30% of transgender students experienced sexual violence. Black students reported experiencing high rates of sexual harassment (46.3%) and intimate partner violence (21.6%). These statistics demonstrate the need discuss how we can create more trauma informed spaces on campus that support all survivors of sexual trauma. Racism has been cited as a barrier to reporting sexual assault among Black and Latina sexual assault survivors (Tillman, et al., 2010), although racism has not yet been adequately examined as a barrier among male or transgender sexual assault survivors. However, homophobia has been found to be a barrier during the sexual assault reporting process among men (Javaid, 2017). These findings only further our commitment to supporting all sexual assault survivors at the University of Pittsburgh. Participants will be provided with a brief overview of sexual violence on college campuses. The presenters will discuss cultural considerations towards working with survivors of sexual violence who belong to marginalized groups. Topics surrounding masculinities, heterosexism and racism will be discussed.

Register

If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at diversity@pitt.edu by July 21

This workshop is a part of the 2021 Diversity Forum.