Sexual Harassment at School

What is it and How Do I Deal With it?

There are so many terms in education, it’s hard to keep track and understand why they’re important.

One term is sexual harassment.

Have you ever seen posters placed around campus?

I’m guessing not.

Districts are required to print and place posters throughout schools defining sexual harassment with long, complex explanations about what to do if you believe you’re a victim.

The reality is few students read them. So we go about our day-to-day and then are shocked, confused, and frozen in fear and doubt if we do become the target of sexual harassment.

So, let’s dig in.

First, what is sexual harassment?

According to the Office for Civil Rights, sexual harassment “must be sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it adversely affects a student's education or creates a hostile or abusive educational environment.” More info can be found here: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/sexhar00.html

So, who defines severe? Not to mention a hostile or abusive educational environment?

That can look and feel different to everyone.

And this forces us to rely on the adults at school to have sound judgment and common sense when listening to students’ reports to determine whether an incident qualifies.

That puts the power in the hands of an adult who doesn’t specialize in sexual harassment and may have zero personal experience with it.

That’s where the power of knowledge comes in so you can advocate for yourself.

Ph.D. Nan Stein of The National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center wrote an excellent report titled “Sexual Harassment in Schools.” Check it out here: https://mainweb-v.musc.edu/vawprevention/research/sexharass.shtml

Her compilation of several studies defines sexual harassment and gives specific examples of the most common types reported by 6th through 12th grade students.

The report defines sexual harassment in schools as “unwanted and unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that interferes with the right to receive an equal educational opportunity.”

There are two types of sexual harassment.

Ever heard the term “quid pro quo”?

This is one form of sexual harassment known to happen in schools, so much so, that the federal government had to create protections against it. If a teacher, administrator, etc. asks a student to do something in exchange for something else, like an A, that is quid pro quo sexual harassment. They may request sexual favors, “or other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature.”

The second and most common type of sexual harassment is called “hostile-environment harassment,” which includes “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature.” In this case, the perpetrators can be anyone — school employees, other students, etc.

So, what does “sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive” mean? And a “hostile or abusive educational environment”?

Maybe it’s the teacher in me, but I still look up definitions to analyze and take a closer look at the actual meaning, especially when writing is technical, legal, and “jargony.”

Severe = intense, harsh

Persistent = ongoing

Pervasive = unwelcome and seems to be everywhere

Hostile = hateful, uncomfortable, malevolent

Basically, if another student or adult makes sexual comments, jokes, advances, etc. that make you extremely uncomfortable, it happens repeatedly, you can’t avoid it, you’re unable to get it to stop, you avoid a particular class or school altogether because of it, your grade in one or more classes is affected … a few of those things, or all, equal sexual harassment.

Who is most affected?

According to the study “Hostile Hallways,” of students who reported sexual harassment, 83% were female and 60% were male.

Another study, “In Our Own Backyard: Sexual Harassment in Connecticut's Public High Schools,” found that 78% of 10th-12th grade responding high school students had experienced at least one incident of sexual harassment since starting high school.

To bring that home, the next time you’re with 10 friends, imagine that around eight of them have experienced sexual harassment. That’s staggering!

What types of school sexual harassment are most common?

You may have brushed some of these things off, knowing they bothered you but not realizing the serious implications.

According to an American Association of University Women study, the most commonly reported types of sexual harassment among 10th-12th graders include:

Sexual comments, jokes, gestures, or looks

Girls: 76%

Boys: 56%

Touched, grabbed, or pinched in a sexual way

Girls: 65%

Boys: 42%

Intentionally brushed up against in a sexual way

Girls: 57%

Boys: 36%

Flashed or mooned

Girls: 49%

Boys: 41%

Had sexual rumors spread about them

Girls: 42%

Boys: 34%

Had clothing pulled at in a sexual manner

Girls: 38%

Boys: 28%

According to the same study, sexual harassment occurs:

66% in the hallway

55% in the classroom

43% outside of school, on school grounds (other than the parking lot)

39% in the gymnasium, on the playing field, or pool area

34% in the cafeteria

23% in the school parking lot

What should you do if you’ve been the target of any of the above?

Remember, you have the power and deserve to feel comfortable at school.

First, report it to a school employee. Be specific. State that you are the target of sexual harassment because (name) did (action) x number of times and refused to stop. Explain how your emotional well-being, grades, etc. are suffering as a result.

Ask to file an official complaint and get a copy.

If the school does not take action to stop the harassment, bring the complaint to the district office.

Still no change? File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, at (800) 421-3481 or ocr@ed.gov.

Angela Halfman Beautiful Broken Vessels Writer and Editing Manager