Bullying and sexual harassment, are they related?

Sexual harassment is not just an adult thing that occurs in the workplace. In secondary schools there may also be victims of sexual harassment both in verbal and physical behavior. Sexual harassment can be linked to bullying and thus begin even in elementary school.

DEROGATORY LANGUAGE

In high school adolescents may use derogatory language regarding the sexual orientation of their peers or even when they think that a boy does not display enough gender stereotyped behaviors (a girl is female or a boy is male). When this happens, the stage is set for sexual harassment, and children who receive these insults often turn around and sexually harass other children to show that they are not gay .

FORCED TO KISS

In high school it can also happen that teenagers are forced to kiss someone even after being sexually assaulted. Many high school students admit that they have been sexually touched without their consent. Sexual harassment can be very subtle.

RUMORS AND GOSSIP

It is also quite common for adolescents to suffer sexual harassment through gossip or rumors of a sexual nature about their life or sexual activity. Usually these rumors are made by stalkers out of jealousy or envy. And in almost all cases, bullies’ low self-esteem is the cause of them trying to humiliate others in a desperate effort to control their own uncomfortable emotions .

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND BULLYING

What are your children’s friends like? See who they hang out with, supervise, and meet the parents of your children’s friends. Talk to your children about how to treat people and what is and is not respectful.

• • Talk early about sexual harassment. Long before someone sexually harasses your child, you better know what kinds of behaviors are harmful at any given time. What happens in college appears before the age of two, in primary school.

• • Have a conversation about sexual harassment. Not only will you have to speak it once, you have to make sure that you take every opportunity in your everyday life to teach your children about respect and gender bias. Have regular conversations about how people should be viewed based on their talents and abilities and strength of character (how nice they are or if they do charitable work or volunteer and help others) rather than how they are come or how they dress.

• • Beware of “digital tattoos”. Remind your kids that what they post on Facebook or Instagram or other social media sites is forever, it’s like a digital tattoo. Remind your kids not to post things like semi-nude photos or jokes of a sexual or bullying nature. Even good kids can get into trouble when they agree to something, even if they feel uncomfortable because they want to be popular. If children get into trouble, it is serious because it can be a crime. There is a consequence, even for what seems like tacky jokes or jokes.

• Talk to the school. If your child is being bullied or sexually harassed and it happened at school, you need to talk to the educational professionals and the school’s management team. If there is no bullying prevention program in place at school, it may be time for it to become a regular conversation and to change school rules and protocols to end this scourge that affects so many adolescents around the world. .