My support system at the IEEE Aerospace Conference
I don’t want to scare you. Most of the time at most conferences, no one harasses any other person. I’ve been harassed and mildly assaulted at conferences; to read more, check out my other blog about sexual harassment. It still happens. The people who are most likely to be victims are women, LGBT folks, and less powerful people (correlated with age). The more these identities stack, the more probabilities stack. As we hold more conversations on this topic, I believe harassment and assault could happen less and less. I’m optimistic. While the climate improves little by little, here are some practical tips on how to avoid harassment and assault at conferences that I wish I had, then a bit on how to deal with harassment or assault.
Prevention
Can we both agree that we want the most out of a conference experience while staying safe? Part of an ideal conference experience is when we’re able to network freely and make new colleagues/friends while feeling safe. In an ideal conference, every official (and unofficial) conference event is safe but I’ve been harassed enough times to be more realistic in how I prepare and carry myself throughout conference events. I know it sucks to have to think about this and there are other hidden costs associated with implementing these tips, but other people’s bad behavior “is not your fault but is your responsibility”.
Flow chart of how to prevent sexual harassment or assault
I’m freaking serious about these tips. I chat with all my students about conference safety before a conference starts and even set up a student buddy system so that I know some steps are taken before I separate from them. Same text as the flow blow diagram but reiterated for the search algorithms:
Have a buddy (this could be your advisor if you’re in a pinch)
Make sure they will walk there and back with you
Make sure they know your signs for help
Make sure they don’t have a crush on you
If you don’t have a buddy,
Make sure the event has responsible individuals overseeing the event.
Make sure it’s easy to get in and out of the event in case you feel unsafe.
If you don’t have a buddy and the event is offsite,
Try to maintain mental clarity with the amount of drinks you consume
Don’t let people push drinks on you
Have an excuse to head out in case you start to feel unsafe
Learn different ways to say no that feel right for you
You want to be as assertive and clear as possible
I personally am not comfortable escalating a situation/making a scene but if you are, power to you
Let someone know where you’re going and your general return time
Call someone as you walk home or have one of those apps that call the police if you take your finger off your phone screen
Reaction
Well, this part double sucks. From personal experience, even when I try to prevent harassment or assault, someone can blow past all the figurative stop signs and harass/assault me. I’ve thought long and hard about what to do after these incidents, so here’s what I would do in the future for myself.
Flow chart of how to react sexual harassment or assault
Same text as the flow blow diagram but reiterated for the search algorithms:
If something happens, document everything.
If you’re assaulted, you can go to the police. They will get a police report, take pictures, and collect DNA if applicable
If you were not assaulted but harassed, write down what happened to you in your own words. Include evidence, like screenshots of text or pictures, if you have any.
Decide what you want to do with your documentation. This will allow you the option to report in the future.
Do you want to report to the conference?
Do you want to just forget about it?
I have a victim’s-first perspective. While it would be good for the conference goers and organizers for you to report, there could be retaliation onto you from the offender. Those are very real consequences that you may not want to deal with and I respect that decision.
Reflections
I’m writing this guide for my grad school self: a small young Asian woman, desperate to make a good impression and not yet equipped with a robust support network at conferences. I think she suffered from power dynamics, lack of awareness that this could happen to her, and a lack of a support system. As I’ve aged, I’ve gained power, awareness, and more support. I think people around me are generally more aware as well, so I’m getting less and less harassed (still nonzero though).
For you gentle reader, I can’t change your power or support system, but I hope you’re now more aware and prepared.