When does a “just a remark” become more?
A recent report on Dutch secondary schools highlights how difficult it can be to draw the line.
More than 2,000 students shared experiences of sexual misconduct with NOS Stories — from sexually explicit remarks to more serious forms of abuse. Many also said they did not report what happened because of shame or because it felt “not serious enough”.
A joke.
A comment.
A “harmless” remark.
What do we start accepting as normal?
At UNITY Project CERV, we explore how language, media and everyday communication can shape the environments we live in — and how we can challenge harmful behaviour before it becomes normalised.
Sometimes, it starts with taking a remark seriously.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.