Sexual Harassment

1. Sexual Harassment Lesson Purpose: Define what sexual harassment is Learn the difference between sexual harassment and flirting Learn what to do if someone is sexually harassing you

2. Sexual Harassment Definition: • Any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature --Equal Employment Opportunity Council

3. School prepares you for the workforce • If you sexually harass someone at your work, you could be fired. • We need to learn about sexual harassment now because this behavior cannot be tolerated anywhere.

4. It is against the Law • Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 • Indiana Law • Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese • St. Charles policy

5. The laws are concerned with the IMPACT OF THE BEHAVIOR. • In other words, the law is concerned with how the PERSON ON THE RECEIVING END IS AFFECTED BY THE BEHAVIOR, not with what the other person means by the behavior.

6. To put it bluntly, even if you didn’t mean it, if it feels like it to the person you do it to, it is sexual harassment.

7. In the eye of the beholder

8. Questions: • So, if a girl says she is being sexually harassed and the boy says he is only joking around, what is it??? • Can boys be sexually harassed by girls?? • If you feel sexually harassed by a teacher, what should you do?

9. Verbal Harassment Examples: • Calling girls names like doll, babe, or honey • Whistling at someone, cat calls • Making suggestive sexual comments about a person’s body, clothing or looks • Telling sexual jokes, stories or teasing • Asking sexual questions • Repeatedly asking out a person who is not interested • Making kissing sounds, howling, and smacking lips • Telling lies or spreading rumors about a person’s sex life • Written comments, notes, or letters of a sexual nature

10. Non-verbal Examples of Sexual Harassment • Looking a person up and down • Staring at someone • Blocking a person’s path • Following the person • Giving personal gifts • Displaying sexually suggestive visuals • Making facial expressions such as winking, throwing kisses, or licking lips • Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements

11. Physical Examples of Sexual Harassment • Inappropriate or unwanted touching, such as groping, pinching, grabbing of body parts • Tearing or pulling at a person’s clothing, including snapping bras, pulling down pants, or flipping skirts • Standing in someone’s way or standing too close in a way that makes the person feel uncomfortable • Bumping into someone or brushing against the person on purpose in a way that makes the person uncomfortable. • Unwanted Patting, hugging or kissing

12. Sexual Harassment: • Is a legal problem • Concerns schools • Gets worse when it is ignored • Should be talked about to create a healthy school environment • Can be embarrassing to talk about • Should never be tolerated

13. Makes the receiver feel: Bad Angry/Sad Demeaned Ugly powerless Makes the receiver feel: Good Happy Flattered Pretty/Attractive In control Sexual harassment vs. Flirting

14. Results in: Negative self esteem Is perceived as: One-sided Demeaning Invading degrading Results in: Positive self esteem Is perceived as: Reciprocal Flattering Open A compliment Sexual Harassment vs. Flirting:

15. Unwanted Power motivated Illegal Wanted Equally motivated Legal Sexual Harassment vs. Flirting

16. What to do: • Confront the harasser, let them know what you don’t like and tell them to stop If they don’t stop or you are uncomfortable confronting: • Talk to your parents • Talk to a teacher, the counselor, the principal • Any adult you feel comfortable with

17. What will happen: • The person sexually harassing will be disciplined strongly • School officials will follow up to make sure it does not happen again • Your parents could choose to have the harasser arrested

18. Sexual Harassment • It should never be tolerated!