What to do when you are sexually harrassed...

Hey guys, Xavier here again...

Today's bullying post is going to be a very sensitive and serious subject: Sexual harassment. Intimidating another student due to his/her sexual orientation, whether perceived or real, is a form of bullying. It's also bullying when someone enters another student's personal space and violates them in a sexual way. What makes this even more complicated is that it's not just physical, it can be emotional or psychological as well. For example, a football player that constantly says provocative phrases to a cheerleader, can be sexual harassment, if those advances are not welcome. Another example of sexual intimidation can be found in the Acception: Bullying Solutions and Prevention Health Education Curriculum. Take a look below:

Alex’s family recently moved into a very conservative school district with little diversity. He is the only openly gay student in his school and feels like an outsider because of his sexual orientation. One day he is walking down the school hallway when a couple of bullies call him a “fag” and yell at him to “stop acting like a girl” as many of the students laugh. This harassment begins to happen more frequently, and Alex finds himself being singled out because of his sexual identity on a regular basis. How do you speak up to the bullies?

 
A couple of ways you can speak up to the bullies may be:

1. Confront the bullies and ask them, “Why are you doing this?” Try to find out why they are prejudiced against gays, and explain to them that bullying a student because you don’t understand or agree with his or her sexuality isn’t cool. 

2. Offer to walk down the school hall with Alex in between classes and get some of your friends
to join you. There is strength in numbers! If the bullies keep harassing Alex, tell them they are rude and to “Stop It!”  

Remember, there is strength in numbers, so don't try to confront bullies on your own, and don't be afraid to get the assistance of a teacher, an administrator, or another adult to help you!

For more information on Acception’s solution-based approach to bullying prevention in the classroom, visit www.Acception.info