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You Girl! Surviving Harassment in School and Beyond

NCJ Number
162573
Journal
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Problems Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1996) Pages: 12-14
Author(s)
M R Laycock
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The author recounts her own experiences as a young person to show that peer sexual harassment in schools is a well-documented phenomenon.
Abstract
As part of classifying the world, young children are concerned with determining their own identity in a culture that sharply delineates male and female sex roles. Once a young girl is revealed as vulnerable before her peers, she will continue to maintain her status as a victim, unless some intervention occurs. To illustrate, the author and another female student played in the high school band, a group dominated by males. The author's friend was developing sexually and became an "object of conquest" for male band members. Male students made sexually explicit comments to her on band trips, and she soon established a "reputation." After initiating the female student into sexual activity, male students later condemned her. The bus driver merely watched the boys mistreat the female student and did not intervene. In contrast to her high school friend who was vulnerable, the author received effective support and intervention from adults who did not believe "boys will be boys" behavior is innocent. She concludes children and adolescents cannot successfully handle gender-based exchanges unless compassionate adults provide support and intervention. Children cannot be expected to take care of themselves and their peers if adults fail to model decisive action against bullying. 14 references and 1 illustration

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