Introduction: Startling Statistics

A recent report, “Crossing the Line: Sexual Harassment at School,” compiled by the American Association of University Women, highlights the disconcerting fact that sexual harassment in schools is alarmingly common and yet still severely under reported. In fact, while almost half of all students in grades seven through twelve were sexually harassed at some point during the 2010-11 school year, only one-fifth of these victims notified their parents. Verbal harassment was found to be the most common form misconduct, but physical harassment was also noted as frequently occurring. Thirty percent of students suffered sexual harassment via electronic media, and a number of students who experienced cyberspace harassment were harassed in the flesh as well. Additionally, more than half of students surveyed witnessed an incident of sexual harassment at least once during the school year.

Unpleasant Effects

Many students explain that they prefer to keep incidents of harassment to themselves because they believe that reporting their encounters will prove futile or will actually exacerbate the problem. Some students, who are unsure as to what constitutes harassment, choose to trivialize their experiences and simply shrug them off.  However, eighty-seven percent of victimized students admitted in the report that the harassment has indeed affected them in a negative way. Victims of sexual harassment typically experience a decrease in their academic performance, a lack of desire to attend classes, and health or sleep problems. Some students actually switch schools or drop out completely. Further, many sexual harassment offenders are actually former victims who are likely lashing out, at no one in particular, for the harm previously bestowed upon them.

Similarly to victims of sexual harassment, teen perpetrators also tend to downplay the gravity of their offenses, and some chalk sexual harassment up to an ordinary part of school. However, it is this propensity for making light of sexual harassment, which reinforces the idea that it is unimportant and should not be taken seriously. It is for this reason, among others, that adults, especially schools administrators, need to become more involved.

Necessary Involvement

School administrators should make the existence and function of their Title IX coordinator well known to students, parents, and other faculty members. These coordinators, who are necessarily responsible for handling issues of gender and sexual inequality that arise in the school context, should also concentrate on establishing reporting procedures that are tailored to those students who are hesitant or reluctant to communicate their experiences. Schools should also work to abolish any facets of school culture which explicitly or implicitly tolerate verbal or physical sexual harassment. Teachers and other staff members should be required to attend training sessions in order to identify and recognize certain behaviors as sexual harassment so that they may stop such actions before they occur.  Parents can also contribute by acknowledging sexual harassment, as opposed to simply ignoring or trivializing it, and by reinforcing, at home, the information taught on campus. A sexual harassment lawyer in Orange County may also be able to shed light on ways to deal with the problem of sexual harassment in schools.

A Sick Cycle

Absent the proper adult intervention, it is likely that the sexual harassment will continue to haunt schools and workplaces alike. Putting an end to sexual harassment, or, at least dealing with it more efficiently and effectively, will be beneficial for both victims and perpetrators. For example, student victims of sexual harassment who do not launch complaints are more apt to refrain from reporting dangerous or life-threatening abuse in the future. In fact, sexual harassment has been likened to a gateway into the acceptance or toleration of teen dating violence and abuse and mistreatment later in life. Unfortunately sexual harassment is also prevalent in the workplace and adult victims commonly experience both emotional and physical side effects, which prevent them from truly enjoying life, even after the harassment has ceased.

As discussed above, victims may also take to harassing others if they are not broken of the mindset that sexual harassment is tolerable and inconsequential. Additionally, young harassers who escape punishment are likely to continue to persecute victims or to adopt other bad habits.  Participating in harassment is actually linked to the existence of psychological or social issues, and ignoring the tendency for misconduct, or allowing it to continue, could lead to more fundamental problems. Therefore, both victims and perpetrators of sexual harassment are encouraged to speak with a sexual harassment lawyer in Orange County.