MIT offers some useful advice on what to do if you witness offensive behaviour.
Strategies in the moment
- Name or acknowledge an offence
- Point to the ‘elephant in the room’
- Interrupt the behaviour
- Publicly support an aggrieved person
- Use body language to show disapproval
- Use humour (with care)
- Encourage dialogue
- Help calm strong feelings
- Call for help
Strategies after the fact
- Privately support an upset person
- Talk privately with the person responsible for the inappropriate behaviour
- Report the incident, with or without name