Study: Sexual Harassment Prevalent
Nearly half of 7th to 12th graders experienced sexual harassment in the last school year, according to a sweeping new study by the American Association of University Women.
Crossing the Line: Sexual Harassment at School also found that 87 percent of those who had been harassed reported such negative effects as stomachaches and not wanting to go to school. The prevalence of sexual harassment in middle and high school may surprise many families and educators, in part because it is rarely reported. Only about 9 percent of harassed students told a teacher, guidance counselor, or other adult at school about being sexually harassed.
AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman called the report “a call to action,” noting that victims of sexual harassment often in turn victimize other children. “It’s a vicious cycle that exacts an enduring emotional toll on students.”
The report includes promising practices for how teachers, parents, and community groups can help change the school climate.
Filed under: K-12 Education News
Tags: AAUW, American Association of University Women, Education Policy, report, Research, sexual harrassment
