One of Hipcamp’s core values is to Build Resilient Communities. To achieve this, we intentionally create an environment of trust and respect, one that fosters inclusivity and safety. We elevate and protect diversity as a strength of nature and those who explore it. Discrimination does not support our endeavor to build resilient communities and does not belong on Hipcamp.
We expect that everyone works to foster a sense of safety and inclusivity while using Hipcamp, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, political views, religion, national origin, or culture. This includes Hosts, Hipcampers, and Hipcampers’ guests, too. Using Hipcamp is an agreement to uphold our shared commitment to building resilient communities by fostering a hate-free environment.
We have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination
We are committed to removing any discriminatory content that violates this policy. This includes content found within site descriptions, trip reviews, photos, Hipcamp messages, and more. Similarly, we are committed to addressing any behavior that violates this policy. Hosts or Hipcampers engaging in this behavior will be subject to temporary or permanent removal from Hipcamp (see below for more details).
Language, symbolism, behavior, and other acts we consider discriminatory include, but is not limited to:
- Discriminating against, threatening, or insulting individuals or groups based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, political views, religion, national origin, or culture
- Using derogatory terms, racial slurs, or code words, including but not limited to “the n-word,” “thug,” “whore,” “f*g,” and “slut.” These words are unacceptable no matter the context. Other words can be considered derogatory when used in a certain context
- Displaying hate symbols including flags, codes, phrases, emblems, and others (e.g. Confederate battle flag, Swastika, ACAB, “≠” etc.) that are used for hateful purposes or could be considered hateful or discriminatory to certain groups. Read more about what informs what we consider hate symbols here
- Showing or eliciting support for hate groups or people promoting hateful activities
- Suggesting, showing, threatening, or glorifying the use of violence — even jokingly — against an individual or a group of individuals
- Committing microaggressions: verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights or insults to a person or group
- Displaying ornamentation, decoration, or memorabilia that are generally considered racist or discriminatory, or elicit feelings of discrimination (e.g. lawn jockeys)
What happens when a Host or Hipcamper does not uphold our agreement to building resilient communities?
Our commitment to building resilient communities is extremely important to us, and we pledge to act with purposeful urgency in all instances related to discrimination. The policies above were established to create an environment of trust, respect, safety, and inclusivity on Hipcamp.
We leverage a combination of technology, the judgment of our Hosts and Hipcampers, and our operations teams to report and remove content, address hateful behavior, and discipline Hosts or Hipcampers who discriminate or generally make others feel unsafe or disrespected. We follow the following process when instances of potential discrimination are discovered:
- First, we debrief with the reporting person to fully understand the situation and assign a point of contact to manage the investigation. This point of contact will be available throughout this process.
- We then investigate the reported person in line with our internal processes. A call with them is scheduled so we can ask follow-up questions to ensure we fully understand their perspective. We then share the impact that their behavior or words had on the person who raised this concern, regardless of what the intent may have been. We listen and discern whether the reported party understands and reflects on their impact and whether they are committed to doing better in the future. We direct them to additional resources so they can learn from this experience as needed (see below).
- Measuring against Hipcamp’s core values, our inclusion policy, and Hipcampers’ review of the Host’s inclusivity (when applicable), we determine if the Host or Hipcamper’s behavior, language, or actions violate our agreement to foster a hate-free environment. Alongside the severity of the situation, we consider the reported person’s understanding of the impact of their actions and their commitment to doing better in the future. We then provide clear, actionable feedback about how to meet our expectations for a hate-free environment; temporarily suspend them from participating on Hipcamp; or permanently remove them from Hipcamp.
What if we don’t get this right?
We’re continuously striving to create a safer and more inclusive Hipcamp community, and we're eagerly adapting to ever-changing norms. But we may not always get it right — we’re continuously learning too. Sometimes, our processes may fail to fully remove language and symbolism or address hateful behavior that violates our commitment to building resilient communities. If you discover discriminatory language, symbolism, or behavior on Hipcamp, please report it to us. This will help us refine and grow the language, symbolism, and behavior we understand as discriminatory, as well as strengthen the process we undertake to address discrimination.
We are committed to doing what is right and continuously learning, iterating, and improving along the way. We know feedback drives growth and we constantly seek it — please feel free to share your thoughts on how we can improve.
Where can you learn more?
If you’re interested in learning more about why this is important to us, please take advantage of the resources below:
- Everyday Feminism, “Intent vs. Impact: Why Your Intentions Don’t Really Matter” by Jamie Utt. July 30, 2013.
- Race Forward, The Center for Racial Justice Innovation, Race Reporting Guide
- Harvard Business Review, “When and How to Respond to Microaggressions” by Ella F. Washington, Alison Hall Birch and Laura Morgan Roberts. July 3, 2020.
- TED, “How to Overcome our Biases: Walk Boldly Toward Them” by Vernā Myers.