ACES: An interactive workshop to empower international students in better dealing with sexual harassment

Abstract

The ACES is a strategy designed for international students who study in the Netherlands to better cope with sexual harassment. The research reveals three striking data: 1)While study abroad, students are five times riskier than those studying in their home country; 2) the highly educated women have more severe problems in the workplace than previous known; and 3) The women who fit three things are riskier and more afraid of sexual violence - in their young age, encountering financial issues and with an immigrant background. Therefore, the information implies an invisible danger to the target user. In the research domain & context, sexual harassment is one of the most severe sexual violence problems on campus. Literature reviews and semi-constructed interviews with experts in the Delft area unveiled the absence of specific support to this problem at TU Delft. On the other hand, many universities have their particular organization to cope with relevant issues. Thus, their service and support were roughly divided into general knowledge education, support for victims and supporters, and some included the relevant problem such as anti-racism helpline. To better understand the weakness and desires in terms of tackling sexual harassment. Ten international students and one dutch student participated in generative research. The analysis unveiled these aspects are their weakness: 1) racism alongside sexual harassment makes them doubting their existence; 2) they are afraid of feeling incorrect without validation in advance; 3) self-blaming tendency such as considering they misunderstand or it is their fault; 4) unclear the intention of harasser; 5) sex is a taboo topic to talk; 6) the perpetrators share same cultural background, so they know the pitfall of victims; 7) the perpetrator reject the rejection; 8) men are silent victims. They also have expectations with regard to the design: 1) someone can talk through the unclear situation with them will help, 2) the awareness-raising builds a stronger mindset. Therefore, the researcher formed the design goal based on the above information: To enhance overseas students’ awareness of bodily autonomy and provide a strategy to cope with sexual harassment through a knowledgeable and amusing interactive workshop at the beginning of their study in the Netherlands. Through guiding by three characteristics of interaction vision (knowledgeable, amusing, and open-ended), appropriate timing, and design form. The design outcome is an interactive workshop design alongside conveying the strategy. The workshop was divided into two main sections: 1) raising the awareness of bodily autonomy and 2) learning the strategy of coping with sexual harassment. The design cycle included rapid-prototyping, user test, filming, and ACES strategy formation. The final design includes an interactive workshop, facilitators’ guidelines, and a strategic plan. It contains five main activities and designed objects. It includes 1) slides, 2) brochures with ACES strategy, 3) films presenting an ambiguous sexual harassment situation, and 4) teaching aids used in warm-up activities. The strategy was formed while considering the other university’s strategy and service. The evaluation took place twice at TU Delft. Ten international participants joined the user test. The results gained overall positive feedback and conformed to the three characteristics in the design goal.