NCJ Number
178367
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 78 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 1999 Pages: 435-460
Date Published
1999
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the extent and impact of peer sexual harassment in schools and the responses of the victims, school personnel, and perpetrators to peer sexual harassment.
Abstract
Peer sexual harassment is a pervasive problem in schools. It creates a hostile school environment for students who have been victimized, as well as for those who observe harassing behaviors. To date, schools, for the most part, have not recognized and responded to this problem. As a result, parents have sued school districts for their failure to protect their children, seeking to punish them financially for their lack of response. From the perspective of eliminating peer sexual harassment, lawsuits are costly, time consuming, and individualized remedies. Although the threat of litigation has led to the creation of school policies, this response may be more an attempt to minimize liability rather than a sincere effort to eliminate the hostile environment created by peer sexual harassment. With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education (1999), it is likely that more school districts will establish policies designed to meet the minimum standard set out in that case. At the same time, litigation is sure to increase, which will impose financial burdens on local school districts and taxpayers, drawing attention and resources away from the education of children. To confront peer sexual harassment in the schools, proactive, substantive, and comprehensive steps such as establishing policies, providing assistance to victims, and sensitizing adults and students must be undertaken. 26 references