Thread by @UKWENTs

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

We need to talk about the culture of sexual harassment and assault in surgery.

And we have advice for *all of you*. Read on.
#VAWG #ILookLikeASurgeon #EarNoseAndNope

If you don't think there's a problem, see this from @RCSnews by @orthopodreg and @beckybeckyfish. "The debate about whether there is a culture of sexual harrassment, discrimination and sexual assault should end. Instead, harder conversations need to begin"
doi.org/10.1308/rcsbul…

And it's not old news. The @RCSnews report led by @HelenaKennedyQC highlighted 'jokes' about rape and sexual assault as a problem in surgery. It noted only 1/4 of respondents reported the harassment/abuse they experienced.
rcseng.ac.uk/about-the-rcs/…
#VAWG #ILookLikeASurgeon

But what if it's 'just a joke'?
🚩 Sexist jokes increase tolerance of sexual discrimination doi.org/10.1177%2F0146…
🚩 Sexist jokes increase male proclivity for sexual assault
doi.org/10.1037/h00991…
🚩 Sexist jokes are a predictor of sexual harassment
doi.org/10.1515/humor-…

What if it's sexist, but not about sex?
🚩 Oppositional Sexism* portrays men as strong and dominant, women as weak and acquiescent. This, and displays of contempt for stereotypically female qualities, support sexual discrimination, harassment and assault.
doi.org/10.1037/h00991…

What if it's a compliment - she could say 'no thanks'?
🚩 Don't. Objectify. Women.
And whilst men should not decide where the line is drawn, expecting women to constantly gatekeep interactions is exhausting, and makes it seem like the woman's fault if she doesn't do enough.

So what can we all do?
💙 Educate yourself on what sexual harassment, discrimination and assault look like.
💙 Understand the harm.
💙 Call it out when you see it.
💙 Have the difficult conversation with any colleague who does it.
💙 Support your colleagues who experience it.

What can leaders do?
💙 Accept the problem is real.
💙 Apologise for past failings.
💙 Make it policy that such actions are unacceptable.
💙 Offer proportionate remediation and restorative justice.
💙 Create reporting mechanisms that are safe to use and effective.

And men, please accept it's a problem and show #allyship to your female colleagues. If you don't recognise it as a problem, educate yourself. If you think you're a good guy, and it's not to do with you, and #notallmen 😬, please watch this and think again.

We'll finish with another quote from @orthopodreg and @beckybeckyfish:

"The standard we walk past is the standard we accept, and many of us hear and see behaviours every day which we know to be unacceptable."

Thanks for reading.
#VAWG #ILookLikeASurgeon #EarsNoseAndNope

*A footnote: the term Oppositional Sexism (men and women being 'opposites' without any overlapping qualities) was coined by @JuliaSerano in 2007. It describes the bigoted logic that underlies rape culture, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and transmisogyny.