When most people think of sexual harassment, they think of a guy grabbing a girl. However, sexual harassment can be something as "insignificant" as being called a slut. It is anything that makes a girl, or boy, feel uncomfortable about his/her sexuality.
According to the law, sexual harassment is anything from unwelcome sexual advances and requests for sexual favors to verbal statements of a sexual nature. It also violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in addition to Title IX of the Education Code. The Sexual Harassment Policy which is in effect in all schools and workplaces is aimed at providing an academic and work environment free of harassment. This includes sexual harassment and every form of intimidation or exploitation.
Sexual harassment is alive and thriving not only in the workplace, but also in schools. Despite all the TV shows, headlines, news broadcasts and negative publicity in movies about the harmful effects of sexual harassment, it is still one of the most frequently reported complaints in the workplace and schools, according to WASH (Women Against Sexual Harassment).
Most students have probably heard of the highly publicized Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas case, or cases of women suing their bosses. But there is another form of sexual harassment that unfortunately doesn't get as much publicity. It happens where females should be learning their rights as "citizens" and being educated about them ... in our schools.
Girls often accept verbal insults on a regular basis. Even though boys say these are "in jest," it has become common (and even acceptable) for males to refer to females derogatorily. Often males, as they walk past a female's locker, will "reach out and touch" a part of her, and the girl is too embarrassed to do anything more than
just laugh or ignore it. Girls have to be aware of their rights. Recently, a high school girl sued her school and won a settlement of $600,000 because the administration took no action to stop the sexual harassment.
Many females who have been harassed face administrators and other adults who give them the "boys will be boys" response. This encourages females to believe that sexual harassment is acceptable in today's society. However, harassment at a young age can have longlasting, detrimental effects. It may have a severe impact on selfesteem and make girls feel selfconscious about their bodies.
When a female does not take action against sexual harassment, not only does it negatively affect her as an individual, but it also gives others, who see the abuse, the idea that it is acceptable to be treated like a sex object and humiliated. Ignoring this negative behavior toward girls encourages them to accept mental or physical abuse, and may encourage young boys to become rapists or wife beaters. So girls, SPEAK OUT! ?
