A national study released today from the American Association of University Women has found that almost half of the students in 7th to 12th grade have experienced sexual harassment this past year. 44% of students reported “in person” harassment, which includes sexual comments, jokes, touching or intimidation, while 30% felt the effects of harassment online through digital comments and the spreading of rumors.
Sexual harassment is so prevalent that it is essentially another part of the school day for students, according to the report’s director of research, Catherine Hill. As one might expect, girls were found to be the victims more than boys, and girls also experienced negative consequences from harassment more so than their male counterparts, such as wanting to stay home from school or feeling sick. The students who suffer the most psychologically are those subjected to harassment online and in person.
While this is definitely a tough issue for young women, it affects all students. The researchers found that pretty girls, ugly girls, girls with the most developed bodies and feminine boys are most at risk for being targets of harassment.
WEIGH IN:
What do some of these numbers mean? Is this something that simply happens among students? Are boys just being boys? How our school’s handling such activity? Are they turning a blind eye, or getting involved? Have you experienced any such harassment? How did you handle it? What actions did you take?
Guests:
Lisa Maatz, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations for American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Karen Sternheimer, Professor of Sociology at USC; author of several books about youth culture and the media including "Kids These Days: Facts and Fictions About Youth"