The UCD Gender Equality Now campaign, which originally began in May of 2015, has recently become active again. UCD students, stakeholders and staff hosted a gender equality workshop and discussed gender equality issues within UCD and the general university industry.
These issues included accounts of rape, sexism, sexual assault, lack of adherence to Human Resource policies and the rise in discriminatory actions towards people with children, families and other carer commitments. As a result of this discussion it was concluded that these issues were not highlighted enough within UCD, leading to a lack of awareness within the university.
It was found that more tangible decisions could be reached and put into effect due to this workshop as a result of the many problems were brought to light over the course of the workshop.
It was decided that the related information be made more readily available to students, staff and stakeholders alike so that a larger and more effective movement could be put in place. The Gender Equality Now campaign is looking for support to make these changes happen sooner and to a greater effect.
Since then a petition has been formed which has now amassed 53 signatures. Co-ordinator of the campaign, Maeve Kelly, said that they had already received a level of support from the University and UCDSU. However she noted that the public appearance of a University has often been a problem in addressing gender inequality and sexual assault on campus. “Universities do not want any stories getting into the media as to their problems with sexual assault, because parents will then be afraid to send their daughters to those universities. So the best way to protect your brand, as a university, is to ensure there is no news on this area,” she said.
More information can be found on the campaign’s Facebook page “UCD Students, Staff, & Stakeholders Say Gender Equality Now”
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