Sexual harassment and assault are major issues in all schools, though not many people are aware of it. Here is everything you need to know about sexual harassment and assault in high school.
Sexual harassment and sexual assault are both large issues in schools today. The prevalence of sexual harassment and assault not only affects the victims, but can affect the school environment as a whole. Title IX has clauses to attempt to stop such sexual misconduct, but there are still many steps that still need to be taken to fix this devastating problem.
Defining Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault
Sexual harassment and sexual assault are often used interchangeably. However, there is a huge difference between the two terms. Sexual harassment is most often identified in the workplace and in learning environments, and includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
Sexual assault, on the other hand, refers to sexual contact or behavior that is most often physical, that occurs without the consent of the victim. Sexual harassment usually violates civil laws, while sexual assault is most often a criminal act.
Related: Sexual Assault vs Sexual Harassment in California
Statistics on Sexual Harassment and Assault in School
Sexual harassment and assault create an unsafe and unwelcoming educational environment not just for those who are victims of the harassment and assault, but for all students at that institution. Sexual misconduct interferes with learning, and can impact students’ mental and physical wellbeing. With such a high risk of ruining a learning environment, one would like to think that schools work hard to ensure that there is little to no sexual misconduct on their campuses. Nearly half of all students in grades 7-12 report facing sexual harassment, 12-18% of girls and about 3% of boys fall victim to sexual assault. Despite these statistics, 79% of schools with grades 7-12 had zero reports of sexual harassment.
Related: Am I Being Sexually Harassed at School? Take the Quiz
How Sexual Harassment and Assault Can Negatively Impact Learning
Sexual harassment and assault can have a long-lasting physical and psychological impact, including anxiety, depression, headaches, sleep disorders, weight loss or gain, nausea, lowered self-esteem, and sexual dysfunction. Although it can take years or decades for victims to begin to address the trauma and come forward to report the incidents, the rumors and whispers may begin the following day at school, in the hallways, and over lunch. A third of female students and a quarter of male students claim that they do not want to go to school due to sexual misconduct, as well as a third of all students said that they felt sick to their stomach to do sexual harassment and assault. Students have also reported the effects of having trouble sleeping as well as having a harder time studying.
Title IX
Title IX is a law that discusses sexual harassment and assault as gender discrimination, which is illegal at schools, colleges, and school programs. If a student is sexually assaulted or sexually harassed at school – or if the harassment or assault has a negative impact on their equal access to school – the student can report the incident (called “making a Title IX complaint”) to their school and request that they take immediate, reasonable, action to help them feel safer while they investigate the Title IX complaint. However, as a statistic stated above, these reports are rarely made to schools for a variety of reasons, from not understanding what happened, to fear of retaliation, to fear of being told that they are weak or lying. While Title IX ensures that the school cannot ignore or blame a victim once a claim has been made, students still fear the consequences of reporting an incident. Additionally, there are schools that do not follow Title IX and do not receive any punishment for their actions.
Contact Us
If you’d like to know more about sexual harassment and assault in high school, contact us. We’ll get you in touch with the most qualified attorney for your unique legal matter. Get your free consultation with one of our California Campus Sexual Harassment/Assault Attorneys today!