Presentation and discussion at Sheffield City College
One of our wonderful volunteers Esther (she/they) reached out to us saying that their teacher had expressed interest in the campaign after she had spoken to him about the campaign.
In December we were invited, alongside Esther, to present to politics and sociology sixth form students at Sheffield City College about political and sociological perspectives on harassment. We discussed our campaign, media presentations of harassment and how different sociological theories (such as intersectionality) can be used to understand the issue.
It was great to hear thoughts from the students and even have some interest in joining our volunteering base.
Here’s what our volunteer Esther (she/they) said about the experience…
In December, I had the privilege of working with Florence and Babhravi to deliver a presentation on harassment at The Sheffield Sixth Form. I focused on exploring harassment from a sociological perspective, analysing and delving into how we can understand harassment through understanding the roots, perpetuation, and impact of harassment in society.
While harassment is a prevalent issue in our society, it still is an underexplored topic within Sociology. Despite the absence of a recognised subfield dedicated to the Sociology of harassment, I used sociological perspectives to analyse how cultural norms, socialisation, social structures with its power dynamics, and institutions and policies contribute to the normalisation and legitimisation of harassment. Through examining these, we can begin to understand how harassment is deeply embedded in society and its institutions, including the patriarchy.
Key insights from my presentation included the role of early socialisation of traditional norms and values in shaping attitudes and behaviours - individuals being exposed to cultural norms and expectations that often reinforce gendered power imbalances and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. These norms are furthered by social structures and institutions, such as the legal system, educational institutions, and workplace policies, which often reflect and reproduce the inequalities and power dynamics that enable harassment to persist.
Furthermore, the presentation reinforced the importance of open conversations about harassment. Students were deeply passionate and engaged, sharing their personal experiences and reflections on the topic. These discussions not only provided a platform for collective understanding, but also emphasised the power of dialogue in addressing harassment. By normalising these conversations, we can challenge the stigma surrounding harassment, hold perpetrators accountable, and empower individuals to recognise and respond to such behaviour.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to engage with such an important issue with Catcalls of Sheffield at The Sheffield Sixth Form and look forward to continue to contribute with more work like this with CCoS.
-Esther Gasque Pilati (she/they)
