NCJ Number
157282
Date Published
1995
Length
32 pages
Annotation
Directed to adolescents, this manual describes the nature of sexual harassment, the attitudes of perpetrators, the impacts on victims, effective responses to the harasser, and other constructive actions that victims and their friends can take.
Abstract
The text notes that sexual harassment includes any unwanted sexual advance, a request for sexual favors, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, unacceptable words and phrases, and some kinds of nonverbal communication. A 1993 survey noted that 85 percent of female students and 76 percent of male students experienced sexual harassment during their school lives. Perpetrators are often trying to be funny or to entertain themselves, while victims feel embarrassment, humiliation, fear, and anxiety. To be assertive when being sexually harassed, victims should evaluate the impact, respond verbally and with consistent body language about how it makes them feel, name the behavior clearly, and tell what they want to have happen. They should tell someone they trust and who they believe can help, and write down what happened. Friends should listen, believe, and support their friends and encourage reporting to school personnel. They should also support effective school policies against sexual harassment. Checklists and illustrations