Examples of Harassment in Schools and SASH Clubs In The Media
Sexual harassment in schools encompasses a broad spectrum of behaviors of a sexual nature, including bullying and sex discrimination, which can severely infringe on a student’s civil rights. Whether based on sexual orientation or other personal characteristics, the repercussions of such harassment include a hostile environment that undermines the equal educational experience. The articles below explore examples of harassment in schools and the how the SASH Club movement is working to stop teen dating violence, sexual assault and sexual harassment in schools.
Fighting Back Against Sexual Assault and Harassment in Schools
Meghan Joyce Tozer writes that peer education and student advocacy play an important role in keeping youth safe and preventing unwelcome sexual advances in her Women’s Media Center blog. She emphasizes that SASH Club offers a blueprint for students to use and how “The toolkits that are out there, the guiding principles of how to establish a club, how to talk to administrators, how to look for advisers, all of that is on the SASH Club website.” Learn about the Jordan High School SASH Club and the role adults can play supporting student leaders..
The Silent Struggle: Intersectionality and Students of Color
Eunice Hong shares her experience of intersectionality as an Asian woman and member of the LGBTQ community. She says it’s important for teens to avoid the trauma she experienced by understanding intersectionality through real-life examples–like school dress codes, which violate the human rights of LGBTQ and gender-diverse students, students of color, and girls. She recommends SASH Club Power Topic presentations on dress codes and sexual harassment of students of color to help students understand intersectionality and support others.
The Impact of Teen Dating Violence Is Long-Lasting
Anna shares her story of teen dating violence. As a freshman, she was “instantly hooked” by a varsity athlete who made her feel great—until he didn’t. Looking back on her traumatic experience, Anna wants others to recognize the warning signs of teen dating violence and how to get help. She recommends the SASH Clubs Power Topic presentation, “Teen Dating Violence.” Read about Anna’s experience and why she’s volunteering with SASH Club.
How to Address Sexual Harassment and Assault with Children
In “How to Address Sexual Harassment and Assault with Children,” author/psychologist Jo-Ann Finkelstein recommends that “Parents can better understand what kids want and need to know by seeking out and sharing age-appropriate resources such as SASH Club’s Power Topics. . . .”
Igniting Youth to Combat Sexual Harassment in School
Ed Post’s “Igniting Youth to Combat Sexual Harassment in School” traces a teen’s journey as he learns about consent, sexual harassment and assault, sexual objectification, Title IX, and resources at SASH Club and SSAIS.org. “I discovered an online resource that I believe every school, parent, and student needs called SASH Club. Its guide is in the AFT Share My Lesson library, and the website has resources anyone can use — anytime — to stay safe and improve the school climate.
A New Way to Combat High School Sexual Harassment and Assault
In “A New Way to Combat High School Sexual Harassment and Assault,” then-high school senior Cate Bikales writes about the enduring impact of sexual harassment beginning in 7th grade, her vulnerability as an Asian American, and the value of creating a SASH Club. Published by the Women’s Media Center.
In Citizen Ed’s “Students Are Walking Out of School to Demand Better Protections From Sexual Harassment and Assault,” SSAIS/SASH Club cofounder writes, “For millions of students, back-to-school means back to the daily barrage of sexual harassment and assault that compromise their learning and well-being. . . . Change isn’t coming fast enough to protect youth from sexual harassment and assault. But there’s something we can all do right now. . . . SASH Club offers a powerful antidote to the culture of normalized sexual harassment and assault that plagues students every day. Youth have the potential to drive change, and with SASH Club’s resources and structure, they can make all learning spaces safe and equitable for all students.”
Combating K-12 Sexual Harassment and Violence: How Far Have We Come?
“Combating K-12 Sexual Harassment and Violence: How Far Have We Come?” surveys the movement to raise awareness about widespread K-12 sexual harassment and assault over the last decade. The article notes the value of peer education, saying that, “Resources like SASH Club empower youth to address sexual harassment and assault.” Published in Ms. Magazine, authored by Stop Sexual Assault in Schools.
In New National SASH Club Program Empowers Youth to Confront Sexual Harassment and Assault, Nicole Mitchell provides an overview of SASH Club’s unique resources beginning with her own experience: “When I was in high school, I was sexually harassed. This boy, a year older than me, would follow me around school daily, which made me uncomfortable. One time I even remember him pretending to drop something so he could look up my skirt. Actually, I wasn’t the only person he did that to. There were plenty of other young high school girls going through the same thing because of this person. At the time, there was nothing I could do about it. I was confused and had nowhere to go.”
Stop Sexual Assault in Schools is Global Girls Worldwide Women Advocate/Resource of the Month!
Global Girls Worldwide Women spotlights SASH Club/SSAIS cofounder as September Advocate and Resource of the Month. In her blog, Esther Warkov writes of the outrageous examples of harassment in schools that fuel her passion to advocate for students 24/7: “It’s only in school districts where students and parents demand change that change occurs. So I’ve immersed myself in the dissemination of our project SASH Club – Students Against Sexual Harassment. It remains a constant source of frustration that the public remains oblivious to the harms normalized K-12 sexual harassment/assault cause, as if these are ‘other families’ problems. No, these harms bleed into all our lives.”
