Shame culture and the prevention of sexual harassment in university: A case study in Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to explore how the relationship between the culture of shame and the handling of cases of sexual violence in universities in Indonesia. The research location was conducted at three State universities with legal Entities; Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP), and Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU). The data collection procedure was performed through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGD). The results of the study show that the culture of shame in reporting victims is closely related to the course of the handling cases of sexual violence (PKKS) process. Shame due to social and cultural stigma also needs to be considered as a reference in forming policies to prevent and follow up on sexual harassment prevention. This means that apart from the urgency of making regulations or a special team, universities must also be able to provide space, time, and services that can guarantee the safety of victims both physically and psychologically.