Description

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a well-covered topic in the media, movies and television, but what about sexual harassment in schools? Harassment in our schools is a serious, pervasive problem that can only be solved by education and discipline. No student should have to fear harassment and have it get in the way of learning and social development. While it is mainly girls who are victimized by harassment in schools, boys also are harassed. School administrators, teachers, parents and other adults who work around teens have a responsibility to prevent harassment.

When sexual behavior in the workplace is continued and unwanted, it is called hostile workplace harassment. Harassment is schools is very similar. At work the victim has a difficult time completely his/her job because of the behaviors. At school, students have same problem completely their school work. In both cases, the behaviors become sexual harassment when they are repeated, unwelcome and unwanted.

Sexual harassment against girls in schools includes behaviors such as whistling, catcalls, graffiti, body comments, sexual gossip, repeating asking for dates, pressure for sex, pinching, spanking and other touching. Boys endure comments about their sexuality and other name-calling and actions such as the removal of pants or shorts in public.

All of these behaviors are unacceptable and this needs to be conveyed to students. Administrators should write a sexual harassment policy and it should be posted and shared…