Developing an Intersectional Approach to Training on Sexual Harassment, Violence and Hate Crimes

Guide for Training Facilitators

This document offers guidance to training facilitators on how to incorporate intersectionality into existing trainings on bystander intervention and first response to disclosures of violence. This is not meant
as a separate training programme in and of itself, but rather to enhance the presentation of existing trainings. It explains what intersectionality is and suggests how to frame training intersectionally, as well as particular activities facilitators can use. This guidance has been developed as a result of conducting a series of focus groups with key informants: student liberation officers and university staff. These focus groups discussed how differences between individuals and their proximity to and risk of experiencing violence might influence their ability to safely intervene.

This guidance will be most helpful when used in conjunction with the intensive versions of training. However, we understand that time constraints may not allow for this. In our focus groups, we learned that when universities abridge trainings, existing sections on intersectionality are often the first to be cut. We would encourage you to try to take an intersectional approach to addressing violence, regardless of the length of the training.

We hope this information is helpful to you as you plan your training around bystander intervention and disclosure. We thank all the participants involved in the focus groups and interviews for sharing their views and experiences with us. This work and the production of this guidance was made possible through funding received from the HEFCE Catalyst Fund (Office for Students).

Vanita Sundaram, University of York Erin Shannon, University of York Tiffany Page, University of Cambridge Alison Phipps, University of Sussex

Download: intersectional approach to training