Sexual violence in educational institutions: an analysis of the issue, using Odenwald School as example

Numerous cases of sexualised violence in an educational context demonstrate that the relationship between power, sexuality and pedagogy has not yet been sufficiently investigated. The Odenwaldschule is to serve as a contemporary example for the analysis of the conceptual conditions of the progressive educational country boarding school. When evaluating the figures and events at the Odenwaldschule, the question that arises in particular is: what circumstances made it possible for such systematic sexualised violence to take place at a renowned school over a long period of time without those involved - be they staff, parents or fellow pupils - being able or willing to intervene? To what extent did the ideological programme and organisational structure of progressive rural boarding schools create structural opportunities for the perpetration of sexualised violence?