I share in Social Work schools and organizations across the country's unqualified support of the women who experienced sexual harassment at the recent CSWE conference and call to ensure that policies are in place to make sure all spaces where we gather as a profession to learn and collaborate are safe for all those who participate. These incidents at a national social work conference are totally unacceptable but nothing new -- our profession is a microcosm of the broader society, in which gender inequity, harassment, and violence continue to be tolerated as "normal." In addition to the individuals who directly experienced harassment at CSWE's APM, these behaviors and CSWE's weak responses to them, allow misogyny to persist in our profession and our broader world. Sexual harassment cannot be tolerated! We, as a school, are committed to consistently and unequivocally supporting each other, and modeling and advocating for policies and behaviors that create a welcoming, inclusive, affirming environment for all people.
In support and solidarity,
Betsy