Networks of Solidarity
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Networks of Solidarity Student mobilizations against sexual violence in universities Ana Vidu Afloarei ADVERTIMENT. La consulta d’aquesta tesi queda condicionada a l’acceptació de les següents condicions d'ús: La difusió d’aquesta tesi per mitjà del servei TDX (www.tdx.cat) i a través del Dipòsit Digital de la UB (diposit.ub.edu) ha estat autoritzada pels titulars dels drets de propietat intel·lectual únicament per a usos privats emmarcats en activitats d’investigació i docència. No s’autoritza la seva reproducció amb finalitats de lucre ni la seva difusió i posada a disposició des d’un lloc aliè al servei TDX ni al Dipòsit Digital de la UB. No s’autoritza la presentació del seu contingut en una finestra o marc aliè a TDX o al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (framing). Aquesta reserva de drets afecta tant al resum de presentació de la tesi com als seus continguts. En la utilització o cita de parts de la tesi és obligat indicar el nom de la persona autora. ADVERTENCIA. 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DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN SOCIOLOGY DOCTORAL DISSERTATION NETWORKS OF SOLIDARITY Student mobilizations against sexual violence in universities Ana Vidu Afloarei Advisor: Dr. Ramon Flecha DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS Barcelona, January 2017 DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN SOCIOLOGY DOCTORAL DISSERTATION NETWORKS OF SOLIDARITY Student mobilizations against sexual violence in universities Ana Vidu Afloarei Advisor: Dr. Ramon Flecha DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS Barcelona, January 2017 ii iii The present research was funded by the Ministry of Education of the Spanish Government under the Program of Scholarships for the Training of University Professors (FPU - Formación de Profesorado Universitario). iv v Dedicatory To all victims whose lives have been personally and professionally disrupted due to the harassment suffered at their universities. To all those brave testimonies who shared their story for this study. To all those who break the silence, to all the remained silences, to all whose voices have not been listened yet. To all second order sexual harassment victims. To specific survivors, whose who have decided to take forward one of the hardest and cruel struggles in our society; with no doubts, being always on the victims’ side, up to give everything for it. To the networks of solidarity, to all those brave young students who know very well that only standing together they could challenge the power, being the active bystanders so much needed in our society. To all the sons and daughters of this society, who deserve having universities as spaces of freedom and knowledge as their families once dreamt. vi vii Acknowledgments This dissertation exists because of the opportunity I had to develop my academic career at the Research Center CREA, at the University of Barcelona; together with people and researches conducted with rigorous and passionate commitment. Our ongoing struggle against the reality described in this thesis, meant not only an example of ethical consistency, but also an unconditional support during this journey. To my colleagues from CREA, thanks for showing me the transformative meaning of the academy; to contribute to change the reality rather than resign themselves. I would like to specially mention here the international support, which accompanies this struggle and solidarity. Thanks to the committed people at Harvard University, the FXB Center and especially to Jacqueline Bhabha, Diane Rosenfeld, Sarah Rankin; who always showed their support for this work. To Ruth Milkman, for leading the way and never leave it. This struggle and the achievements we celebrate today would never be as they are portrayed here without her involvement. The meaning of this dissertation was also shared at the University of California, Berkeley. I am grateful to the Department of Sociology and to devoted professors who always took a clear stand. Thanks to Michael Burawoy for his vocation and the energy transmitted in making Sociology a public good. Deeply thankful to students, survivors and activists of the Berkeley campus, for showing me how to smile after breaking the silence. To the Ridgeway community for sharing alternative projects, for believing this struggle, for our friendship. This work was also inspired by the solidarity and the network of support created by activists as Sofie Karasek, Andrea Pino, Annie Clark. Their infinite courage has impacted the way institutions and society addresses this issue. Special thank you to all the colleagues and brave survivors of the Solidarity Network of Victims of Gender Violence at Universities. Their names cannot be written here, but their stories have already changed the Spanish academia forever. Close to me, the intensity of this thesis has been shared with exceptional people. Special mention for two of them, who marked my way, showing me how we are able to change what we did not decide in this world, making many lives much happier. To colleagues and friends who influenced this struggle, teaching me to never give up, Lidia, Rosa, Marta, Carme, Tinka, Cris, Mica… For providing opportunities, for trusting, Maria Rosa, Rosina… For many moments of friendship, Tere, Maria, Teo, Sandra, Esther, Eli, Rocio, Adriana, Oriol, David… For all we deeply share, Emi, Mar. The culmination of this stage has also special meaning for my family, they also become activists. Thank you for believing in my dreams and never doubt. To my parents, for their own struggle, deciding to change the course of their history, and also ours. To my brother, for being the one who I would always have chosen. To my sister in law, for our friendship. To my grandparents, who also fought against the violence of their system; strongly dreaming of our happiness. To Irina, because along with this thesis, I realized that future generations will become braver to continue the struggle for more humane societies. viii ix TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 4 The scope of this research .................................................................................................................. 10 The main aims ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Selection of the case studies ............................................................................................................... 14 Structure of the dissertation ............................................................................................................... 15 Main concepts framing this research.................................................................................................. 17 Motivation for the topic ...................................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER 1: ................................................................................................................................................. 22 STUDENT MOBILIZATION AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE IN ACADEMIA ...................................................... 22 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 24 1.2. Existence of gender violence ...................................................................................................... 26 1.3. Defining sexual violence within the university ........................................................................... 29 Which situations are considered sexual violence in academia? ........................................................