This is a post from a LinkedIn contact, once removed. She has yet to respond to my request to repost it here so I’m leaving out her name but I strongly believe it’s worth sharing. I can tell you she has a Ph.D. in physics and works as a research scientist in Europe.

As a graduate student, I noticed some of the bullying she describes, especially during my Ph.D. program. The victims were usually women, including women of color. It also happened to female employees at the hands of bosses deemed too powerful to challenge. I was exempted from this abuse because of my many circles of privilege, including my gender, race, social class, and temperament. Regarding the latter, I don’t suffer fools or bullies gladly.

Peace, MAA

This year, I celebrated the thesis defense of a close friend, but the joy was bittersweet as the final years of his PhD were overshadowed by bullying from his PhD advisor. He could only complete his PhD by having his advisor removed from the examination committee, a process that required involving a senior faculty member due to the university’s delays and inaction. This experience also reminded me of some difficult times in my own academic journey & raises a crucial question: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀?

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵?

▶️ 𝗛𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: Rigid power dynamics often embolden senior individuals to bully without fear of repercussions.
▶️ 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Insufficient reporting mechanisms allow abusive behaviors to persist with min. consequences.
▶️ 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀: Aggressive competitiveness can normalize bullying, making it overlooked or accepted.
▶️ 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Victims often hesitate to report due to potential neg. impacts on their careers.
▶️ 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Many don’t recognize certain behaviors as bullying, perpetuating the cycle of abuse.
▶️ 𝗜𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀: A lack of effective support leaves victims feeling isolated & powerless.
▶️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺: Some bullies may be shielded by their status or connections, making it hard for victims to challenge them.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴?

▶️ 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀: Implement robust anti-bullying policies with clear reporting procedures.
▶️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Conduct training to help recognize & address bullying.
▶️ 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲: Create safe spaces for sharing experiences without fear of retaliation.
▶️ 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Encourage intervention from colleagues when bullying occurs.
▶️ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀: Develop counseling services and peer support groups for victims.
▶️ 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: Take reports seriously and ensure appropriate actions are taken against bullies.

Academic bullying is a serious issue that demands collective action. It is vital to dismantle the structures that enable bullying, ensuring all members of the academic community can pursue their goals free from mistreatment. By promoting transparency, accountability, & support—especially at the institutional level—we can cultivate an academic env. where everyone thrives without fear of bullying.

Have you experienced academic bullying? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!