Intersectionality in gender-based violence and institutional responses: Insights from Academia & Research

This paper investigates the impact of intersectional discrimination on gender-based violence within Higher Education (or academic) and research organizations in Europe, and the incorporation of an intersectional perspective within institutional responses to this problem. The importance of combating gender-based violence has been underscored by the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, placing it prominently on the regional political agenda. Nonetheless, limited attention has been given to discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation and gender expression/identity, ability, and their intersection with gender. Existing gender equality policies often fall short of adopting an adequate intersectional approach (Lombardo and Rolandsen 2012, Manuel 2019). Focusing specifically on the intersection of gender and race, we acknowledge that there is a persistent reluctance to recognize and address racism within increasingly racially diverse European societies (El-Tayeb, 2011), and there is an absence of recognition of the impacts of racism in GBV. With this focus in mind, we ask three research questions in this paper: to what extent do European RPO's responses to GBV include an intersectional approach? How is intersectionality framed and applied in practice? Which other inequalities beyond gender are more frequently considered in academic institutions responses? The study adopts a feminist institutionalist approach coupled with an intersectional perspective. The analytical framework employs a holistic 7P model, covering prevalence, prevention, protection, prosecution, provision of services, partnerships, and policies. The mixed-method methodology draws on data produced within two research projects. The first is the EU-funded UniSAFE research project (2021-2024), which specifically delved into gender-based violence in academia and research and their corresponding institutional responses (interviews, survey and case studies conducted across 15 member states). The second is the postdoctoral EU-funded research project IntersectGE, which seeks to understand the role played by intersectional discrimination on the grounds of gender and ethnic and racial origin in sexual harassment in Spanish and EU universities and research organizations as experienced by women of ethnic minority and immigrant backgrounds (document analysis and preliminary survey results).