Rape Culture Pyramid” by 11th Principle: Consent!, used with permission from Jaime Chandra, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA.

A few weeks ago, someone vandalized the Women’s Institute table-tops in Buhl Hall. The table-tops are small acrylic stands with three sides that display messages about women’s leadership events on campus. You have probably seen them in Anderson Dining Hall and the Carriage House, among other places. When our team went to update the table-tops, we discovered that each of the stands in Buhl atrium had been covered with stickers and the panels had been turned inside out, hiding their messages about Women’s Institute events.  

This was more than a casual act done quickly in a moment. This took a little time and effort since there were several table-tops damaged. Perhaps the intention was not to harm a public symbol of our University’s historic legacy of women’s leadership, though we wonder if the perpetrator(s) would have damaged signs advertising other campus departments or programs. 

It’s too easy to violate something you don’t value. We have to take this vandalism seriously. Here’s why. 

Damaging signs promoting gender equity is an example of a micro-aggression. Scholars who study gender and sexual violence have identified a “pyramid of harm” with micro-aggressions and other seemingly “small” actions at the bottom, and rape and violence at the top. 

Acceptance of behaviors and attitudes at the bottom of the pyramid — such as sexist locker room banter or cat calling — lead to the normalization of gender-based violence actions further up on the pyramid, including stalking and sexual assault.  

Gender-based violence is rampant in our society. While Chatham is a very safe campus, we are not immune from the broader culture of gender violence. According to the latest data that all universities are required to report under the Clery Act, Chatham students experienced two rapes, three sexual assaults and three incidents of stalking in 2023. 

And we know that most gender violence is not reported: for instance, only 20% of college-age women report their sexual assaults to the police. Although gender violence disproportionately impacts women, girls, trans and gender-expansive individuals, people of all genders, including men and boys, can and do experience sexual assault.   

If we are serious about preventing gender violence, we have to address the culture that permits and normalizes the “little” things we experience every day. Research demonstrates that these “little” things add up to an accumulated experience of harm. 

People with multiple marginalized identities, including Black women and LGBTQIA+ people, experience intersecting micro-aggressions. The accumulation of harm causes students, staff, faculty and other community members to feel unsafe and unwelcome in spaces on our campus. 

Chatham currently provides education around gender violence prevention through the Green Dot and DefineIt programs, which emphasize bystander intervention. RAs and orientation leaders also receive training. 

But we need to do more. If we are going to shift our campus climate, and work towards a world free of bias and discrimination, we all need to address the actions and attitudes at the bottom of the pyramid of harm. 

What if you had seen the person vandalizing gender equity signs? Can you imagine yourself saying something like, “Hey, not cool” to intervene? Could you practice what you might say or do? 

Research confirms that saying something in the moment is an extremely effective way to change social norms. The American Psychological Association and RightToBe.org have more information on taking action.

The good news is that, working together, we can make our campus a safer and more welcoming place for everyone.    

Women’s Institute Team: 

Dr. Jessie Ramey, Director, Women’s Institute and Associate Professor, Women’s & Gender Studies and History 

Kiera Baker ‘25, Political Science, Women’s and Gender Studies; Women’s Leadership Certificate 

Hannah Fisher ‘25, Psychology, Women’s and Gender Studies; Women’s Leadership Certificate 

Ava Krepp ‘25, Political Science, Women’s and Gender Studies; Women’s Leadership Certificate 

Source: https://www.11thprincipleconsent.org/consent-propaganda/rape-culture-pyramid/