What Is Sexual Harassment?

As young people’s bodies start to mature, they may experience sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is a form of bullying that is meant to hurt or intimidate a person, and it can take many shapes. It can include sexual jokes, sexual comments, sexual gestures, touching in a sexual way or sexual actions toward or about another person. Sexual harassment can also include asking someone to share sexual pictures, sending someone unwanted sexual pictures, exposing someone to pornography or starting sexual rumors about someone (in person, via text, online or in writing in a public place, like a bathroom stall). It is important that parents tell their children (regardless of their gender) that some people use sexual language, touching or gestures to hurt other people, and this is never okay. Having these conversations with young people gives you an opportunity to explain that it is not okay for anyone to verbally or physically harass another person, including touching another person who doesn’t want to be touched, making sexual comments about another person, asking someone to send sexual photos or starting sexual rumors about another person. Make sure your children know that if anyone does sexually harass them by touching, gesturing or showing them sexual images that make them uncomfortable, they should tell you right away.

Sexual harassment is something no one wants their child to face, but we know that it is a reality. Young people need to know how to respect other people’s boundaries, that it is never okay to sexually harass someone else and that there are consequences to participating in this type of behavior. Young people should also know what to do if they are being sexually harassed. It is important that young people know they are never at fault when they are sexually harassed and that they should report harassment to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher or coach, as soon as possible.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Start essential conversations with your children about boundaries, how others should and should not touch them and how they should or should not touch others. These conversations lay the foundation so your children know they can come to you with questions or if someone crosses a boundary with them. The easiest way to start these conversations is to talk about issues as they come up in everyday life, like while watching TV together.