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can also affect the working environment. According to the report, “gender-based
vulnerability” has been considered as a “catching all term for sexual harassment,
bullying, cyberbullying and incivility” (p. 9). Sexual harassment is considered to
be “exposure to unwanted sexual attention” (p. 9) and is regulated by several laws
in Sweden. The term “workplace bullying” has been used to refer to “harassment,
insults, and/or ostracism of someone, or when one or more persons negatively affect
someone else’s work . . . repeatedly, as well as over a period of time” (p. 10). In
addition, previous studies have shown that incivility/disrespect, in the sense of “low-
Dr. Charlotte Lindgren intensity aggressive behaviour with intent to harm,” is common at universities (p.
is Senior Lecturer in 10) and was therefore also included in the study. The report—and, to some extent,
Educational Sciences
with a focus on French, the article in Nature—presents the earlier research in this area, but I will not consider
employed at the that here.
Department of Education The response rate was 31.9%. In this article, I will highlight some of the most
and Educational Studies interesting results. There were many very positive findings in the study (Rudolfsson
and the Department et al., 2022), e.g., most people (more than 80%) in all three categories (employees,
of Modern Languages PhD students, students) considered their health to be good (excellent, very good,
at Uppsala University,
Sweden. Her early or good). They also reported believing that they receive good support from their
research focused on the immediate supervisor or equivalent in their work or studies (employees 87%, PhD
translation of children’s students 86%, students 83%). Unfortunately, many problematic and worrying
books, mainly from findings also existed. For example, women and young people reported high levels
Swedish to French. Her of exposure to unwanted sexual attention: When asked if they had been subjected to
current research concerns unwanted sexual attention at work or place of study in the last 12 months, women
the use of children’s
literature by French answered yes (5%), men answered yes (3%), and the aggregate of people under 30
language teachers in answered yes (6%). Looking more closely at who responded, the figures for women
schools. A member of and men as employees were 2% and 3% respectively; for women and men as PhD
DKG’s editorial board since students 4% and 2% respectively; and for women and men as students, 6% and 3%
2020, Dr. Lindgren was respectively. In addition, in comparison to those reporting exposure, twice as many
president of the Uppsala reported being aware that someone had been subjected to unwanted sexual attention:
chapter (2018-2022)
and is currently, since 5% of employees overall, 6% of PhD students overall, and 8% of students overall.
2021, serving Sweden In addition, women and the total group of all respondents aged 30 and over reported
State Organization as the highest exposure to bullying: had been bullied.
vice president, chair of The study (Rudolfsson et al., 2022) also reported important figures relating to
Educational Excellence the proportion who had experienced behaviors related to workplace incivility, but
Committee, and here the responses were more evenly split between men and women. According to
webmaster.
the report, [women] “report a higher level of vulnerability than men on 9 of the 12
charlotte.lindgren@edu. questions, but the differences are small” (p. 31). Questions about workplace incivility
uu.se included, for example, whether the respondent had been interrupted or talked over
and whether people had been uninterested in the respondent’s opinions or had not
charlotte.lindgren.44@
gmail.com paid attention to what the respondent said.
Other findings in the report of the study (Rudolfsson et al., 2022) relate to the
effect of Covid-19 on bullying and other gender-based harassment. A section of
in-depth analysis reports findings on the relationships between the victim and the
perpetrator; on reasons for not making a formal report; and on the consequences of
exposure. In the conclusion of the report, the authors also reflect on the methodology,
indicating that the response rate might be a little low because the survey was sent
to too large a sample of staff and students and because the survey was conducted
during the pandemic (p. 45). Nevertheless, the report has caused a stir in Sweden and
around the world and is still leading to special meetings at the University of Uppsala
(Sweden), for example, because the data presented are serious and disturbing. For

28 The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin: International Journal for Professional Educators