THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY Decision-making structures and academic posts must achieve a reasonable gender mix that takes account of the reality on the ground. «To make the University more welcoming, we need to transform our environments by changing our attitudes. This also means that men need to stop behaving in ways that could be perceived as intimidating or harassing. Changes to mundane, everyday things, such as comments about hairstyle or clothing, also need to take place.» But the institutions themselves have levers at their disposal. For example, the cascade model enables ULiège to support an ongoing transformation in the gendered distribution of the academic world. «For example, during a promotion campaign, the ratio of men to women at level N is taken into account so that the ratio is identical at level N+1. Once gender diversity has been achieved in an environment, its transformation is much quicker, because minorities carry more weight». This measure implies a major change in the mentality of scientific culture at universities. «We need to give more weight to qualitative assessment, which runs counter to the massive use of quantitative criteria currently in use which assesses research solely in terms of bibliometric criteria. This is detrimental to the careers of people who may have career breaks, such as women - or, it should be noted, anyone, male or female, who may have to deal with a long-term illness or care for a dependent person.» MORE ROOM FOR GENDER As well as promoting career paths, it is also important to make more room for intersectional teaching and research. And in order for more dissertations and theses to be devoted to these issues, it is important that the teaching staff themselves are made aware of them. «We are touching on an important area, that of interdisciplinarity. We must, at all costs, encourage exchanges between the humanities and social sciences and the other so-called ‘hard’ sciences. This will help us to respond to the current transitions that we are facing. For example, this means integrating a social science dimension into a computer science dissertation, or vice versa. And by doing so, we will reduce the bias that can exist in scientific productions.» Finally, the University must take action to eradicate gender-based violence, starting with a clear commitment to recognise that it exists and to declare that it is unacceptable. «Naming things, for example through a charter, has a powerful effect, because no one will be able to say that they don’t know. It would consolidate, and make visible, the work of the services responsible for helping people and the measures adopted by the Institution, because they do exist. Ultimately, it would give greater legitimacy to the victims of such violence, who are often reluctant to talk about it and seek appropriate help. Acting against violence is a moral obligation for the University; refraining from doing so contributes to the perpetuation of such violence.» Le pire ce n’est pas les remarques les pressions le malaise l’humiliation c’est que personne ne réagit. L’ULiège s’engage How about not mentioning my legs my dress my chest my walk and talking about my research instead? L’ULiège s’engage Une femme on lui parle de ses enfants. Un homme on lui parle de ses projets. L’ULiège s’engage L’ULiège Si vos blagues sexistes sont trop lourdes pour prendre cet ascenseur prière d’emprunter l’escalier. L’ULiège s’engage Il se sentait très fort tout puissant irréprochable dans son droit avant qu’un·e collègue lui demande d’arrêter. L’ULiège s’engage Il semblait impossible de faire cesser ses intimidations humiliations blagues homophobes remarques déplacées. Mais il a suffi qu’un·e collègue intervienne. L’ULiège s’engage Parfois sourire être sympa porter une robe être une femme est un comportement à risque. L’ULiège s’engage Vos blagues racistes sont insupportables dégradantes méprisantes humiliantes même si je souris. L’ULiège s’engage The worst thing is not the remarks the pressures the discomfort the humiliation is that no one reacts. L’ULiège s’engage It felt impossible to stop the intimidation humiliation homophobic jokes inappropriate remarks. But all it took was for a colleague to intervene. L’ULiège s’engage Vos blagues homophobes sont si bien trouvées si originales si drôles que je peux désormais les raconter au tribunal. L’ULiège s’engage Et si au lieu de commenter mes jambes ma robe mon décolleté ma démarche vous commentiez ma recherche ? L’ULiège s’engage L’ULiège s’engage Florence Caeymaex Advisor to the Rector on Ethics and Equality 15 | ACTIVITY REPORT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT ULIÈGE | 2022 – 2023
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