Stopping Sexual Harassment before it Starts

Is your child being sexually harassed at school? Unfortunately, many girls and even some boys are being targeted. Four our of every five students in this country will be a victim of some type of sexual harassment this year. Scary, isn't it? This is a startling statistic that worries many parents. Not only should we educate our children about sexual harassment, but we should also make them aware of what behaviors are illegal or considered harassment of a sexual nature. We should teach them this not only to protect our children from harassers, but also to protect them from themselves. Each and every student need to be aware that sexual harassment is illegal and punishable, and they must also be assured of their rights to be treated with dignity.

Sexual harassment has been on the rise in recent years. Some parents and educators blame television or society in general, but I happened to think that women just aren't taking it anymore. We are raising stronger girls-- ones that do not take kindly to being humiliated and degraded. Sexually explicit comments and other forms of harassment occurs in all levels of the education system, but especially are present in junior high and high schools. By college, most students have learned what is and what is not accepted.

A school should make the sexual harassment policy known to all students. There should be a set of rules and consequences for breaking the rules, and these policies should be followed to the letter, whether the harasser is a student or one of the staff. If your school didn't notify you of their sexual harassment policy, inquire about it for your own protection. Students and parents must learn to recognize sexual harassment, so that it can be reported. Without notifying school officials, there is no way to curb the behavior.

A student might feel that reporting it would only result in increasing the incidence of the negative abuse that they are receiving. Some students feel intimidated by their sexual harasser. Many times they feel too embarrassed to complain. Yes many students are fearful of making complaints , but this is the only way it can be stopped. Whether it is another student or a teacher that is making you or your child feel uncomfortable, the same rules apply. If a teacher was saying derrogatory things to your young daughter, you would be down at the school in an instant.

Sexual harassment includes any behavior that is sexual in nature and unwanted by the other student. There are countless different types of this sexually explicit conduct. This can stem from various different types of contact with students. Sexual harassment can take the form of verbal innuendo, physical gestures, name-calling, facial expressions, and touching. Let's get educated first and then we will become empowered.

Examples of the following inappropriate behaviors are some examples of sexual harassment:

• sexual gestures
• sexual "cat calls" and name-calling
• sexual or dirty jokes
• pressure for sexual favors
• unwelcome sexual advances
• touching of a sexual nature that is unwanted
• graffiti of a sexual nature
• displaying or distributing of sexually explicit drawings, pictures, and written materials
• touching oneself sexually
• clothing that depicts sexual subject matter
• talking about sexual activity in front of others
• spreading rumors about or rating other students as to sexual activity or performance.

Students should be aware of how their behavior can be considered sexual harassment if it is unwelcome and of a sexual nature. A reference to the size of a student's sexual organs, about a student's body, a lascivious stare, comments on a person's dress, and name-calling that is sexual in nature are all considered sexual harassment. Even constant attempts to ask a person out can be considered sexually harassing. This is because the behavior is unwanted. By educating our children about their rights to a school environment that is free from this type of conduct, we are giving them the best weapon to fight sexual harassment.

Remember to learn your school's sexual harassment policy. Refrain from any sort of sexual reference, and report any inappropriate behavior. Protect yourself and your child from damaging sexual conduct in school through education and self-discipline.

Source:

Back to Writers Haven Home

Subscribe to Free Job Newsletter