Can Colour-Blind Communication be Culturally Responsive? Input on Sexual Violence Policies and Services from Culturally Matched Student Focus Groups

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 sex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sexuality & culture 2024-10, Vol.28 (5), p.2052-2073
Main Authors: Malinen, Kelley Anne, Brigham, Susan, Kennedy, Karen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bias
College campuses
Culture
Education
Ethnicity
Ethnocentrism
Focus groups
Gender
Inequality
Intercultural communication
Intersectionality
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Original Article
Personality and Social Psychology
Psychology
Race
Racism
Regional and Cultural Studies
Sex crimes
Social Sciences
Students
Violence
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1095-5143
1936-4822
DOI:10.1007/s12119-024-10218-y