What is classified as discrimination and who do you contact?

As a student at our University, you should feel safe and secure. Your study and/or work environment should be free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. If you have nevertheless experienced these things, we explain below what you can do about it and who you can contact for help.

When you study at the University of Gothenburg, you are covered by Sweden’s Discrimination Act, which means that all students have equal rights and opportunities. Despite the University’s preventive efforts in this area, if you have experienced what you suspect is discrimination or harassment of any kind, please inform us about this. Who to contact depends on the programme you are studying, that is, which department is responsible for you. Further down the page you will find a list of contacts. We recommend that you contact one of these people first. That said, you may contact any employee at your department about the matter, as all employees have a duty to inform the head of department of suspected cases of harassment or discrimination, and the head of department has the ultimate responsibility for the department.

What is classified as discrimination?

Discrimination is when someone is treated worse than someone else in a comparable situation and this treatment is related to one of the seven grounds of discrimination (protected characteristics) listed below. Not all incidents are classified as discrimination, for example private individuals cannot discriminate against each other. However, where private individuals behave inappropriately towards each other, this may constitute harassment or workplace bullying. It is therefore important that you report such incidents, even if not all incidents will be assessed as being instances of discrimination or harassment.

Grounds of discrimination (protected characteristics)

• Sex
• Transgender identity or expression
• Ethnicity
• Religion or other belief
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Age

Forms of discrimination

• Direct discrimination
• Indirect discrimination
• Inadequate accessibility
• Harassment and sexual harassment
• Instructions to discriminate

So that your experience of discrimination or harassment is clearly stated, it is a good idea to write down what happened and how it could be linked to one or more of the grounds of discrimination.

What happens after you report an incident?

When the head of department is made aware of suspected discrimination or harassment, they have a duty to investigate the circumstances. The head of department then decides whether or not it is possible to carry out an investigation. In some instances, you may need to be called to a meeting to provide more information before a decision to investigate or not is made. You have the right to receive an answer to whether or not the head of department has chosen to take your case further.

It is important that you know that no one at the University is permitted to do bad things to you just because you reported an incident. This is called the prohibition on reprisals under the Discrimination Act. If you feel that someone is subjecting you to reprisals, you should report this as well.

Who to contact at the Faculty of Humanities

Department of Swedish, Multilingualism, Language Technology: Sofie Johansson, Equal Treatment Representative, phone 031-786 42 03, sofie.johansson@svenska.gu.se
Department of Literature, History of ideas and Religion: Camilla Alvhage, Equal Treatment Representative, 031-786 45 80, camilla.alvhage@lir.gu.se
Department of Languages and Literatures: Chloé Avril, Equal Treatment Representative, 031-786 45 94, chloe.avril@sprak.gu.se
Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science: Ellen Breitholtz, Equal Treatment Representative, 031-786 11 76, ellen.breitholtz@ling.gu.se,
Department of Historical Studies: Lena Larsson Lovén, Equal Treatment Representative, 031-786 46 59, lena.larsson@class.gu.se
Department of Cultural Sciences: Lise-Lotte Gustafsson, Study Counsellor, 031-786 5321, lise-lotte.gustafsson@gu.se

You can also contact the main student health and safety representative at shamo.humsek@gota.gu.se or the Chair of the Göta Student Union's Humanities Section humsek@gota.gu.se. You can get help from the student union even if you are not a member.

More information:

What is discrimination? (www.do.se)