NCJ Number
190034
Date Published
1999
Length
112 pages
Annotation
Drawing on various sources of existing data, this study examined the incidence and implications of sexual harassment and sexual violence in K-12 schools in the United States and proposed recommendations for countering and preventing it.
Abstract
The study defined sexual harassment in schools as "unwanted and unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that interferes with the right to receive an equal educational opportunity." It is a form of sex discrimination that is prohibited by Title IX, a Federal law that establishes civil rights in education, as determined by judicial precedent. Sexually harassing behavior that can interfere with one's educational opportunity ranges from words and gestures to physical contact. Some of the behaviors may be criminal acts (assault and rape, attempted or completed) and child sexual abuse. Data for this study were obtained from reviews of sexual harassment surveys; three well-substantiated studies of the types and prevalence of sexual harassment in schools; dating violence/sexual violence surveys that mentioned school as a location of the sexual violence; standard surveys on school violence and alternative sources of data on sexual violence; and relevant lawsuits and complaints. The review of these data produced a moderately substantiated picture of sexual violence and sexual harassment in schools. The review produced recommendations that could reduce both sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools, create new public policy, foster collaboration between agencies and schools, and offer new directions for research. Two types of recommendations are included in this report: those for schools and those for policies and research. 189 references and appended tables of findings from the various data sources