Sexual Harassment Defined and its Impact on Students

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What’s Ahead

How sexual harassment harms students
When it begins and how prevalent it is
Feelings associated with sexual harassment
The importance of recognizing sexual harassment
Types of sexual harassment and assault
Who harasses and who is harassed
Sexual harassment by teachers and school staff
Frequently asked questions
Bystander intervention
What to do if you are sexually assaulted
What to do if you experience or witness sexual harassment

Sexual Harassment Violates Civil Rights

Civil rights protect everyone’s right to be treated equally regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Sexual harassment and sexual violence violate civil rights.
Each year, at least 56% of girls, 40% of boys, and 75% of transgender students in grades 7–12 experience sexual harassment.

Why Define Sexual Harassment?

The #MeToo movement raised awareness of workplace sexual harassment.
Schools also have a responsibility to protect students from sexual harassment.

Impact of Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment and sexual assault can:

Traumatize students
Interfere with learning
Cause emotional, physical, educational, and economic harm
Lead to dropping out of school
Make college and career opportunities harder to access

Sexual Harassment Starts Early

Sexual harassment can begin as early as kindergarten and includes teasing or mistreatment when children do not conform to gender stereotypes.

Many elementary school students experience groping or sexual assault in bathrooms, playgrounds, or on school buses by peers, older students, and sometimes adults.

Frequency of Sexual Harassment

In one national survey, 81% of students in grades 8–11 reported experiencing sexual harassment, and 87% said it negatively affected them.

Feelings Associated With Sexual Harassment

Victims may feel confused, shocked, angry, embarrassed, or ashamed—especially when the harasser is a friend.
Victims may blame themselves, but sexual harassment is never their fault.
Harassment is often normalized, which prevents victims from recognizing it.

Sexual harassment should never be normalized or tolerated.

Sexual Harassment Is Discrimination

Sexual harassment is discrimination based on sex.
Schools receiving federal funding must prevent sexual harassment under Title IX.
Schools must also prevent other forms of sex-based discrimination, even if not sexual in nature.

Recognizing Sexual Harassment

Sexual sounds or gestures such as catcalling or explicit motions
Sexual jokes, slurs, graffiti, or social media posts
Spreading sexual rumors
Sending sexual texts, images, or showing pornography without consent

Recognizing Sexual Battery / Indecent Assault

Unwanted sexual touching of intimate body parts over or under clothing for sexual gratification
Forcing someone to touch another person sexually
Does not involve penetration

Recognizing Sexual Assault and Rape

Sexual assault involves unwanted sexual touching under clothing
Rape includes unwanted penetration (definitions vary by state)
Hazing can include sexual harassment or assault and should never be dismissed

Examples of Harassing Behaviors

Sexual jokes, comments, or rumors
Sexual gestures or sounds
Sexual notes, graffiti, or online posts
Sharing or requesting sexual images
Unwanted sexual pressure
Disparaging remarks about sexual orientation
Unwanted touching, grabbing, or cornering
Forced kissing or hugging

Who Does the Harassing?

Harassers may be students, teachers, coaches, staff, bus drivers, or others in positions of authority. People of any gender can harass.

Who Gets Harassed?

Girls, boys, and transgender students across K–12 schools
LGBTQ students, students of color, and students with disabilities
School staff may also be victims

Sexual Harassment by Teachers or School Staff

An estimated 10% of students experience sexual misconduct by school staff
Grooming behaviors include isolation, special privileges, and manipulation
Sexual relationships between teachers and students are illegal in many states

Flirting vs. Sexual Harassment