The Society for Seventeenth-Century Music

The Society for Seventeenth-Century Music

Ethics Policy

Society of Seventeenth-Century Music

Guidelines for Ethical Conduct

Introduction

The Society for Seventeenth-Century Music was established for the purpose of promoting the study and performance of music and related arts of the seventeenth century. We are committed to the principles of inclusion and access and to providing a harassment-free environment in-person and online. We reject discrimination against anyone on the basis of race, color, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, nationality or national origin, age, marital status, gender or gender expression, sexual orientation, political beliefs or affiliation, physical ability or disability, scholarly methodology or fields of study, parental or caregiver status, rank, or employment status. The values delineated in this policy are designed to foster civil discourse and the free exploration of ideas and concepts with respect for the rights, dignity, and inherent worth of all persons.

Best Practices

All people participating in official SSCM meetings and online spaces are expected to:

Definition of Harassment

Harassment is behavior that demeans, humiliates, or threatens an individual on the basis of their race, color, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, nationality or national origin, age, marital status, gender or gender expression, sexual orientation, political beliefs or affiliation, physical ability or disability, scholarly methodology or fields of study, parental or caregiver status, rank, or employment status.

Behavior constitutes harassment if it is severe (e.g., unwanted physical contact) or pervasive (e.g., persistent). Petty slights, annoyances, and isolated incidents (unless extremely serious) will not rise to the level of harassment.

Definition of Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment does not refer to occasional compliments of a socially acceptable nature or consensual personal and social relationships without a discriminatory effect. Sexual harassment refers to behavior that is not welcome and that is personally intimidating, hostile, or offensive.

Intake and Investigation of Complaints

Complaints about harassment in SSCM online spaces or at our annual meeting will be taken seriously. These complaints should be directed to the President of SSCM or a member of the SSCM board. The board will seek further information and, if warranted, will take commensurate action.

The wording of some segments of this document has been based on or adapted from policies of the American Musicological Society, IASPM-US, the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.