Ensuring those affected are not left alone: Active bystander intervention as a collective responsibility

It takes courage to go public with one’s own experience of violence and show vulnerability. Even more so: to endure the fact that this step often triggers a simultaneous spike in clicks on fake nude images, AI-generated pornographic content, or deepfakes, while also inviting doubt about one’s own experience. And yes, this courage serves as a role model for all those who experience sexualized violence every day—whether online or offline. The price survivors pay when they speak out is high and comes with both emotional and health-related consequences. Ideally, far more survivors of violence should speak out publicly, confide in friends, family, or acquaintances, and report crimes so that the number of unreported cases decreases and violence no longer takes place behind closed doors.

Collective responsibility and active solidarity

But what about collective responsibility in a system that repeatedly tolerates sexualized violence, looks the other way, or dismisses it as a tragic isolated incident? What structural responsibility do politics, the judiciary, and the media bear, as well as organizations and social institutions? What is the responsibility of society, one’s immediate circle, and colleagues? What can I do myself to play my part?  

Perhaps write this short blog post? Perhaps, if my own situation allows, I can take part in a public demonstration or join an existing initiative? That sounds doable at first. But what happens when it gets real? What if I encounter sexualized violence in a work or educational context or among friends, and I realize that a colleague, a fellow student, a friend, or someone I don’t know is affected? What can I do then to avoid falling into helpless paralysis and instead provide support?  

In the project “Active Bystanding: Addressing Intersectional Discrimination and Sexualized Violence at Universities and Colleges”, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, we are working with our partners at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the competence center “i-PÄD – Intersectional Pedagogy” to take a closer look at this very dilemma in the higher education context. We are exploring the possibilities of a preventive approach where the responsibility to address abusive behavior is more broadly distributed, rather than resting solely on the shoulders of the person affected.  

Because this is by no means rare: despite their educational mission and commitment to equal opportunity, universities are not free from discrimination and sexualized violence. A survey at Charité Berlin shows that 49.6% of students experienced discrimination, predominantly in a sexist form (71%), and 23.6% reported sexual harassment (Ludwig et al. 2022). Similar results are provided by the European UniSAFE study (2022): 62% of respondents experienced gender-based violence, primarily psychological violence (57%) and sexual harassment (31%). Women, non-binary individuals, and marginalized groups are particularly affected. A report by the European Research Area and Innovation Committee (2020) also shows that 22% of women in higher education experience physical or sexualized violence, with power imbalances playing a central role. Overall, this body of research makes it clear that sexualized violence in the higher education context is a structural problem.

So how can not only the shame, but also the responsibility shift sides, or at least be better distributed? How can more solidarity emerge in everyday life, in the workplace, or in educational and scientific institutions, instead of survivors being forced into constant self-defense?  

What are active bystanders?

An active bystander is someone who intervenes when they observe discriminatory, offensive, or boundary-crossing behavior—in a way that is appropriate to the situation and their own role.

• Active bystanders intervene: When they witness discrimination, they make a conscious choice to say or do something rather than letting the situation unfold and remaining passive.

• Active bystanders send clear signals: They make it clear to both the perpetrators and everyone present that discriminatory behavior is unacceptable. When such messages are consistently reinforced within communities, the boundaries of what is considered acceptable behavior can shift.

• Active bystanders act safely and informed: They know how to address a situation without putting themselves in danger and are familiar with the five “D’s” of active bystander intervention: Distract,Delegate, Direct, Delay, andDocument. D

At the same time, this approach builds on established protection and prevention frameworks against sexism and sexualized violence in organizations, targeting people in a wide variety of roles and functions—such as researchers, students, faculty, or administrative staff in a university context.  

However, the active bystander approach can also be combined with existing awareness, equality, or anti-discrimination initiatives, as well as broader corporate strategies, to ensure that those affected are not left alone, but rather that solidarity is practiced daily at the workplace and on a peer-to-peer level. For those interested in the corporate perspective, we recommend the alliance "Together Against Sexism" is highly recommended. More than 900 organizations and companies have now joined forces here to take decisive action against sexism. But back to the individual level.  

Now it is up to me and to you: to pay attention, to listen, to speak up, to offer help, and to take collective responsibility instead of just applauding the courage of those affected and then looking away.  

Sources

• Ludwig, K., Salmen, A., & Heesen, C. (2022). Discrimination and sexual harassment at the Charité – Results of an online survey. Das Gesundheitswesen, 84(01), 42–48. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1339-1116  

• UniSAFE Consortium. (2022). Gender-based violence in research and higher education institutions: Final study report. European Commission. https://unisafe-gbv.eu/results/study-report/  

• European Research Area and Innovation Committee (ERAC), Standing Working Group on Gender in Research and Innovation (2020): Sexual Harassment in the Research and Higher Education Sector – National Policies and Measures in EU Member States and Associated Countries.