Abstract
Forty-two ethnoculturally and gender-matched student focus groups in Nova Scotia Canada were convened at four predominantly white postsecondary institutions to discuss university sexual violence policies and services. We present qualitative data relating to participant perspectives on how campus sexual violence responses should address race, racism, ethnicity, or ethnocentrism shared by students belonging to five racialized cultural communities. All participants cited demonstrated concern about racial or ethnic bias, however their views about the institutional or interpersonal practices that would signal fair rather than biased treatment varied. Practices associated with cultural responsiveness, including ethnocultural matching, were widely advocated. Some participants favoured explicitly race-aware communication from sexual violence responders, consistent with currently dominant anti-racism. In contrast, others preferred that responders not introduce topics of race or racism, instead practicing what might be referred to as colour-blindness. Suggestions linked to the African philosophy of Ubuntu and to cultural humility were also advanced. In conclusion, to address students’ concerns about racism and ethnocentrism, we outline a toolkit approach to the intercultural communication that occurs in the implementation of campus sexual violence policy.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge contributions of co-researchers Tatjana Takševa, Kristin O’Rourke, and Emily MacLeod to data collection and project conceptualization; collaborators Amy Braye, and Caryn Small Legs-Nagge to project conceptualization and knowledge dissemination and exchange; and Mary Delaney to project conceptualization. We also thank coordinator and research intern Brooke VanTassel; as well as the peer facilitators who are too numerous to name and our anonymous participants.
Funding
This work was supported by the Province of Nova Scotia, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Delmore Buddy Daye Learning Institute, Mount Saint Vincent University, and Saint Mary’s University.
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Ethics approvals were received from Mount Saint Vincent University (Phase One, 2018/2018-051; Phase Two, 2019/2019 − 115) Cape Breton University (Phase Two, 2020/2020-079) Saint Mary’s University (Phase Two, 2020/20–074) Dalhousie University (Phase Two, 2020/2020–5094) Mi’kmaw Ethics Watch (2020, No file number).
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Malinen, K., Brigham, S. & Kennedy, K. Can Colour-Blind Communication be Culturally Responsive? Input on Sexual Violence Policies and Services from Culturally Matched Student Focus Groups. Sexuality & Culture (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-024-10218-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-024-10218-y