As a social justice organization, the SSSP is committed to creating a safe and welcoming space at the annual meeting for the free exchange of ideas and professional development; an environment free from harassment based on, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, age, disability, health conditions, sexual orientation, religion, language, socioeconomic status, marital status, domestic status, or parental status. This includes the harassment of colleagues, students, guests, SSSP and hotel staff, vendors, exhibitors, and others present at the annual meeting. To that end, we ask you to help us to make it very clear that anyone engaging in this kind of behavior is not welcomed at the annual meeting.

The Society for the Study of Social Problems is committed to the eradication of discrimination (both intentional and unintentional), harassment, intimidation, and violence directed at individuals and groups based on, but not limited to, race and ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, class, nationality and immigrant status, ability, and religion. Offensive and prohibited conduct may include, but is not limited to, offensive jokes, slurs, epithets, name calling, physical assaults and threats, unwanted touching and persistent unwanted attention and invasion of personal space, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, and insults and put-downs. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is engaged in without clear affirmative consent. Discriminatory and harassing actions are prohibited both when they are directed at specific individuals and groups and when they create a hostile environment.

Sexual harassment and sexual assault disproportionately target people subject to structural oppression: women; people of color; trans, and gender non-conforming individuals; and disabled people, although anyone can be a victim.

Whenever and wherever possible, the Society will affirm this commitment to publicly and explicitly combat racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and antisemitism. As an organization dedicated to social justice, the Society will take very seriously, reports, formal or informal, of harassment or discrimination in the organization and at annual and other Society meetings. To the greatest degree possible, the Society will do what it can to respond appropriately to those who violate our policies and to protect victims and potential victims from being subjected to this type of unwanted and offensive behavior. We will make every effort to ensure that this commitment is manifest in the policies, programs, and practices of the organization, including in the public positions the SSSP takes on issues, both national and international. SSSP expressly prohibits retaliation against individuals who report harassment and will take action against those who retaliate.

This policy addresses harassment that involves SSSP members in general and includes specific guidelines for harassment that occurs at SSSP annual meetings, events (virtual or in-person), email and phone communications regarding SSSP business, and on SSSP social media platforms.

When posts on SSSP accounts are flagged within the platform by other SSSP members, the administrative office will take down such posts and send them to the Anti-Harassment Committee for review and follow-up, which may include the resolutions, outcomes, and possible sanctions outlined in the Anti-Harassment Policy, or other responses deemed appropriate by the Committee. To this end, we encourage SSSP members to be mindful when posting to SSSP social media accounts and consider the ways people different from them might interpret their messages.

By joining SSSP and registering for meetings, members of SSSP agree to comply with this policy.

View the SSSP’s Anti-Harassment Policy in its entirety here.

Click here if you would like to make an ANONYMOUS report regarding behavior that violates the anti-harassment policy. See the policy to make a formal report and additional reporting options.

NATIONAL HOTLINES

LGBT National Hotline: lgbthotline.org
The LGBT National Help Center serves gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people by providing free and confidential peer support and local resources. For additional information call: 1-888-843-4564.

Love is Respect: National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline: Loveisrespect.org
Love is Respect offers information, support, and advocacy to young people who have questions or concerns about their dating relationships. For additional information call: 1-866-331-9474 or text 22522.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: thehotline.org
24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse. For additional information: call 1-800-799-7233. Contacts to the Hotline can expect highly-trained, expert advocates to offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988lifeline.org
988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365, connecting those experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis with trained crisis counselors. For additional information call: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Line.

StrongHearts Native Helpline: strongheartshelpline.org
The StrongHearts Native Helpline is a safe, anonymous, and confidential service for Native Americans experiencing domestic violence and dating violence. For additional information call: 1-844-762-8483

WomensLaw Email Hotline: hotline.womenslaw.org
The WomensLaw online helpline provides basic legal information, referrals, and emotional support for victims of abuse. 

LOCAL RESOURCES WHERE THE ANNUAL MEETING IS HELD 

Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Resources 

Between Friends: betweenfriendschicago.org 
Between Friends is dedicated to preventing domestic violence and ending the cycle of abuse by equipping our communities with the tools necessary for everyone to feel safe and equal in their relationships. Programs include a 24 hour helpline, free counseling services, and court advocacy. 

City of Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline: 1-888-293-2080 
The Rape Crisis Hotline provides survivors of sexual violence and their significant others immediate support, crisis intervention and referrals for people living the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. This program provides crisis intervention, one on one support and referrals to additional resources. 

City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line: 1-877-863-6338 
The Help Line is a 24-hour, toll-free confidential number that functions as a clearinghouse for domestic violence services and information. Trained domestic violence advocates staff the phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provide victims with immediate information about their options, information on safety planning, referrals to community-based providers including shelters, counseling, and legal advocacy. Bi-lingual and bi-cultural Spanish speaking advocates are always available and operators can access the Language Line for other languages. A TTY is available for speech and hearing-impaired callers. 

Connections for Abused Women and their Children: cawc.org 
With a multi-lingual shelter, education and outreach programs, and hospital services across Chicago, Connections for Abused Women and their Children provides immediate safety and long-term services for domestic violence survivors and their children. 

Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline: the-network.org/Illinois-domestic-violence-hotline 
The Domestic Violence Hotline provides crisis safety planning and referrals to emergency housing and support services to survivors of domestic violence in Illinois. In addition, Victim Information Resource Advocates can provide information and local resources to concerned family and friends. For additional information, call 312-527-0730. 

Mujeres Latinas En Acción: mujereslatinasenaccion.org 
Mujeres Latinas en Acción is the longest standing Latina-led organization in the nation. Community members seeking domestic violence or sexual assault services can walk into the offices from 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday without an appointment. All of Mujeres’ staff is Spanish and English speaking. 

Resilience: ourresilience.org 
Resilience is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the healing and empowerment of sexual assault survivors through non-judgmental crisis intervention counseling, individual and group trauma therapy, and medical and legal advocacy in the greater Chicago metropolitan area.  

Legal Services 

Legal Aid Chicago: legalaidchicago.org
Legal Aid promotes access to justice for economically disadvantaged residents of Chicago and suburban Cook County. For additional information, call: 312-341-1070. 

Life Span Center for Legal Services and Advocacy: life-span.org
Life Span provides legal representation, counseling, court advocacy, and immigration legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking within Chicago and suburban Cook County. For additional information about legal assistance, contact 312-408-1210.

National Immigrant Justice Center: immigrantjustice.org
Located in Chicago, the National Immigrant Justice Center offers consultations and legal representation for low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

LGBTQ+ Resources

Brave Space Alliance: bravespacealliance.org
Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ+ individuals on the South and West sides of the city. Black Space Alliance strives to empower, embolden, and educate each other through mutual aid, knowledge-sharing, and the creation of community-sourced resources as we build toward the liberation of all oppressed peoples.

Center on Halsted: centeronhalsted.org
Center on Halsted advances community and secures the health and well-being of the LGBTQ people of Chicagoland. Center on Halsted provides a vast array of programs and services designed to advance Chicago’s LGBTQ and allied community, including mental help support, HIV/STI resources, youth programming, and inclusive senior programming.

Howard Brown Health: Howardbrown.org
Howard Brown Health was founded in 1974 and is now one of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) organizations. The agency serves more than 40,000 adults and youth in its diverse health and social service delivery system focused around seven major programmatic divisions: primary medical care, behavioral health, research, HIV/STI prevention, youth services, elder services, and community initiatives. Howard Brown serves men, women, trans and gender non-conforming folks, infants, youth, and children through a multi-site operation based in Chicago.