Recent research shows that female academics who speak up about their experiences with sexual harassment feel silenced by the system. This calls for critical examination of how academic systems deal with #MeToo issues. This short article explores why academia seems to be unable to adequately address sexual harassment. Zooming in on manifestations of different governance logics in attempts to deal with #MeToo, we see that different governance logics lead to similar patterns. Four governance logics address #MeToo problems through reframing instead of addressing the problem as raised. Consequently, female academics are left in the same or worse position than before speaking up about their experiences. These findings show a blind spot of governance: only #MeToo problems that ‘fit’ within governance logics are dealt with. This is highly problematic, as (1) #MeToo problems as defined by the people who experience harassment are not dealt with and (2) governance mechanisms reconstruct and reinforce existing power relations, in which academics raising #MeToo issues remain in a vulnerable position and end up silenced and oppressed. Further reflection and action concerning power imbalances in academia is needed to overcome this blind spot in organizational responses to highly sensitive and complex issues such as #MeToo.
Keywords: governance logics, #MeToo, academia, problem definition, power process
Citeren: La Grouw, Y.M. (2020) Dealing with #MeToo in academia: organizational responses through a governance lens. Public Note 4(1), p. 7-10.
Keywords: governance logics, #MeToo, academia, problem definition, power process
Citeren: La Grouw, Y.M. (2020) Dealing with #MeToo in academia: organizational responses through a governance lens. Public Note 4(1), p. 7-10.
| 2020_4-1_PublicNote_LaGrouw_MeTooAcademia.pdf |
