In this paper, I will draw on research from schools and university settings to explore the idea that formal sites of education can be considered conducive contexts for sexism, sexual harassment and violence. I draw on Liz Kelly鈥檚 notion of a conducive context to make the argument that schools and universities may be spaces that enable sexual harassment and violence. I will discuss the findings from several projects to show how gender inequality more broadly permeates these institutions, and more specifically, how beliefs about gender lead to the dismissal, trivialisation and normalisation of sexual harassment and violence within these spaces.
Using Connell鈥檚 framing of the gender regime I will explore how structural, institutional and cultural features of educational settings produce and enable gender inequality in a range of forms. Attention will be paid to other forms of hierarchy and marginalisation to understand diverse and multiple forms of harassment and violence within education. I will aim to offer a consideration of the factors that might shape education contexts that are conducive to equality, respect and compassion instead.