“I Don’t Want to Make Myself Look Like a Trouble-Maker”: Faculty and Staff Perspectives on Bystander Intervention in Academic Sexual Harassment Situations

This study shares findings of interviews with 25 faculty and staff from across the United States on their perspective on bystander intervention (BI) during instances of sexual harassment (SH) within academia. Factors that hindered BI included fears of retaliation, power dynamics, and perceived impacts on safety and career advancement. Facilitators of action included knowledge of SH and prior victimization; positionality and social identity were discussed as further impacting BI. Various types of bystander action were discussed, primarily focused on “delayed” responses. Findings underscore the critical need for BI programs tailored to address the nuanced challenges inherent to academia.