Citation

Nunlall R. Acta Criminol. 2022; 35(3): 1-24.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Criminological Society of South Africa)

DOI

10.10520/ejc-crim_v35_n3_a1

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article reports on a retrospective policy analysis conducted on 12 sexual harassment policies from higher educational institutions (HEIs) in South Africa. The aim was to provide valuable policy relevant recommendations to reform existing policies and inform policy development. The 12 policies were content analysed using Walt and Gilson's four dimensions of the policy triangle framework to structure the findings. The article draws attention to whether university policies address the culture that perpetuates sexual harassment at the organisational or institutional level. The findings from the document analysis approach show little support for organisational change mainly because policies do not make adequate provision for proactive prevention (i.e. addressing toxic masculine cultures, intersectional inequalities, and existing patriarchal ideology), ways to close the implementation gap and means to enhance transparency, as well as accountability. In the conclusion of this article, policy recommendations, that reflect an interrelationship between reactive and proactive measures, are made in response to the identified policy gaps.

Language: en

Keywords

higher educational institutions; intersectional inequalities; patriarchal ideology; policies; reactive and proactive measures; Sexual harassment; South Africa; toxic masculinity