An intersectional analysis of sexual violence policies, responses, and prevention efforts at Ontario universities

This dissertation critically analyzes how sexual violence is being conceptualized in post-secondary institutions’ policies, responses, and prevention efforts. Drawing on Sara Ahmed’s (2014) concept of nonperformativity, the dissertation concludes that through their references to intersectionality, these sexual violence policies may serve to only publicly indicate the institutions’ commitment to addressing sexual violence without necessarily changing the ways that sexual violence is entrenched in those very institutions.