What is sexual misconduct?
Sexual misconduct is a term the University uses to describe inappropriate and unwanted or attempted unwanted behaviours of a sexual nature. Sexual misconduct can take many forms, but the important thing is that it is any sexual behaviour which disregards a person’s informed consent. It covers behaviour by an individual or a group which violates a person’s dignity and creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. It can be a single incident, or a string of persistent behaviour. You don't need to have objected to a certain kind of behaviour in the past for it to be unwanted and constitute sexual misconduct.
Anyone can be targeted by sexual misconduct, regardless of gender or sexuality. It does not matter if you have previously consented to sexual acts with that person, or with others. Whatever the circumstances, nobody has the right to force you to have sex or touch you without your consent. If this happens to you, it’s important to remember it’s not your fault.
You may also have heard or seen the terms ‘sexual assault’, ‘sexual violence’, or ‘sexual harassment’. These all have separate but overlapping meanings, and if there is a term which feels most appropriate to describe what you have experienced, we encourage you to use whatever language feels best for you.
What are some examples of sexual misconduct?
- Sending unwanted emails/texts/images of a sexual nature
- Making unwanted sexual comments or degrading remarks
- Recording or sharing, or threatening to share intimate images of you
- Any attempt to persuade or coerce you to consent to anything sexual
- Unwanted sexual advances
- Unwanted sexual contact
- Sex without consent
If you have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, you are not alone, and we are here to support you. There is further information about the support available to you at the University and through national and local services here.
There is specific support available to you at the University from our Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs), who are specially trained to support you, regardless of when your experience took place. You can contact the SVLO team via the Wellbeing Access form and find out more about SVLO support here.
If you are thinking about reporting, you can choose to speak to an adviser about your options around reporting to the University or report anonymously. You are in control of what you choose to do next, and you should only share your experiences in a way and at a time which is comfortable for you.