SoundGirls Sexual Harassment Policy
SoundGirls’ Sexual Harassment Policy
Resources
SoundGirls has developed an extensive collection of educational materials, reporting information, and support resources for people experiencing sexual harassment, sexual assault, or misconduct in the workplace.
Whether you are an intern, freelancer, touring professional, student, or employee, these resources can help you understand your rights, recognize inappropriate behavior, explore reporting options, and find support.
Visit the SoundGirls Sexual Harassment Resource Center for more information.
Building a Safer Audio Industry
Sexual harassment and assault can happen in recording studios, venues, production companies, touring environments, internships, and other workplaces.
Creating safer environments requires more than written policies. It requires professional boundaries, accessible reporting options, meaningful accountability, and a commitment to protecting people from retaliation.
Employers, mentors, and internship providers have a responsibility to establish clear expectations, take complaints seriously, and ensure that individuals in positions of power are not using their influence to exploit others.
No professional relationship, mentorship, job opportunity, or industry connection should come at the expense of someone’s safety.
Seeking support does not obligate you to make a police report, confront the person responsible, or share your experience publicly. Confidentiality and mandatory reporting requirements can vary by service and circumstance.
SoundGirls believes that everyone deserves access to education, professional opportunities, and workplaces built on respect, safety, and accountability.
Your safety matters. Your boundaries matter. And no career opportunity is worth harassment, coercion, or violence.
What Can My Local Chapter Do to Help?
SoundGirls is committed to promoting safe, respectful, and inclusive environments throughout the audio industry. We recognize that reporting sexual harassment, sexual assault, discrimination, or unsafe working conditions can be especially difficult in an industry built on personal relationships, freelance employment, and professional networks.
As a volunteer-run organization focused on education, mentorship, and professional development, SoundGirls wants community members to feel comfortable raising concerns about opportunities, individuals, or organizations connected to our network.
SoundGirls can listen to concerns and help individuals identify resources for reporting harassment, sexual assault, discrimination, or unsafe working conditions.
We can share information about survivor advocacy organizations, trauma support services, legal assistance, and government agencies that handle workplace complaints.
When concerns involve an internship, mentorship, event, or professional opportunity promoted through SoundGirls, we can review the information brought to our attention and consider whether continued promotion or association is appropriate.
We can establish expectations for professional conduct within SoundGirls programs, chapters, and events and address concerns involving activities under our organizational control.
We can also provide education about workplace rights, professional boundaries, recognizing warning signs, and creating safer learning and working environments.
Reporting Concerns About SoundGirls Opportunities
If you experience or become aware of concerning conduct involving a SoundGirls member, chapter activity, or professional opportunity promoted through our network, we encourage you to reach out.
- Submit a Concern
- Contact your local chapterhead(s) or use our designated reporting form. You may request confidentiality, and anonymous reporting options may be available. We will explain any limitations on confidentiality if necessary.
- Leadership Review
- Concerns will be referred to designated SoundGirls leadership for an initial assessment. We will consider the nature of the report, immediate safety concerns, potential conflicts of interest, and appropriate next steps.
- Interim Protective Measures
- When warranted, SoundGirls may temporarily suspend an individual’s participation in organizational activities, pause promotion of professional opportunities, or take other reasonable precautions while concerns are assessed. Such measures do not constitute a determination of wrongdoing.
- Organizational Action
- Depending on the available information and circumstances, SoundGirls may establish additional participation requirements, discontinue promotion of an opportunity, suspend membership privileges, or permanently remove individuals from programs and platforms under its control.
- Communication and Support
- We will strive to communicate appropriate updates to reporting individuals while respecting privacy, legal obligations, and the limitations of our organizational role.
SoundGirls is not an investigative or law enforcement agency. Reports involving suspected child abuse, immediate threats, or potentially criminal conduct must be handled in accordance with applicable mandatory reporting laws. Individuals with reporting obligations must report directly to the appropriate authorities without waiting for organizational review. Nothing in this process replaces or delays legally required reporting.
Our goal is to support community safety, respond consistently to concerns, and ensure that opportunities promoted through SoundGirls reflect our organizational values.
Public Statements, Privacy, and Organizational Responsibility
SoundGirls does not publicly identify individuals based solely on unverified allegations. We handle reports with discretion, respect the privacy of those involved, and take appropriate action within our organizational authority and legal obligations.
As a volunteer-run organization, we have a responsibility to protect our community while also protecting the organization and its ability to continue providing education, mentorship, and professional opportunities.
This does not mean we dismiss allegations or discourage survivors from speaking about their experiences. We can listen to concerns, connect individuals with appropriate advocacy and/or legal services, and review whether SoundGirls should continue promoting or associating with individuals or organizations when safety concerns arise.
Our Commitment to the Community
SoundGirls believes that access to education, mentorship, and professional opportunities should never depend on tolerating harassment, exploitation, coercion, or unsafe working conditions.
We recognize the power imbalances that can exist between interns and mentors, freelancers and employers, and early-career professionals and established industry figures.
Our responsibility is to promote education, share resources, establish appropriate standards for our own programs, and make thoughtful decisions about the opportunities and relationships we support.
We cannot replace professional advocacy, legal assistance, or trauma services, but we can work toward a culture where concerns are taken seriously, professional boundaries are respected, and community safety is a priority.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to learn, work, and build a career without harassment, intimidation, or exploitation.