Researchers report on ’lad culture’ at British universities

New research carried out by Sussex academics suggests that 'lad culture' is widespread at universities in England and Scotland. The report - by Alison Phipps and Isabel Young from the Centre for Gender Studies at Sussex - reveals that 50 per cent of the women who were ed during the research identified "prevailing sexism, 'laddism' and a culture of harassment" over their time as university students. In light of the findings, the National Union of Students (NUS), which commissioned the report, has called on government Women and Equalities Minister Jo Swinson MP to convene a summit on 'lad culture' and develop a national strategy to address it. The report, ' That's what she said: Women students' experiences of lad culture in higher education', was published on International Women's Day last Friday (8 March). In the report: 'Lad culture' was defined by participants as a group or 'pack' mentality residing in activities such as sport and heavy alcohol consumption, and 'banter' that was often sexist, misogynist and homophobic. Respondents described university education as 'gendered' and cited issues such as the characterisation/status of particular subjects, classroom interactions, and negative attitudes towards feminism and gender-related topics. 'Lad culture' was thought to be particularly influential in the social side of university life.