Sexual Harassment A Hurdle For Teen Girls

Study: Teenage Girls Often Subjected To Unwanted Romantic Advances, Academic Sexism

(WebMD)  Despite strides in gender equality most teenage girls continue to experience sexual harassment at home, school, and on the playing field.

A new study shows that 90 percent of girls report experiencing sexual harassment at least once and more than half have experienced academic sexism regarding their ability in male-dominated fields such as science and math.

Researchers say sexual harassment may take the form of unwanted sexual behavior and sexist comments, and repeated sexual harassment can negatively affect girls' self-esteem, body image , achievement, and beliefs about others.

"This study documents the continued pervasiveness of sexism in the lives of adolescent girls," researcher Campbell Leaper, professor of psychology at the University of California Santa Cruz, says in a news release. "When sexual harassment frequently occurs, girls may come to expect demeaning behaviors as normal in heterosexual relationships. And when girls' achievement is discouraged in traditionally male-dominated fields, their potential is limited and society loses potentially talented individuals in important fields such as science and technology."


Sexual Harassment Starts Early

In the study, researchers surveyed 600 girls between the ages of 12 and 18 from California and Georgia. The girls were asked about their views on gender roles and sexism, as well as their personal experiences with sexual harassment. They were also asked about discouraging comments they'd received about their abilities in science, math, computers, and sports.

The results, published in Child Development, showed the vast majority
(90 percent) had experienced sexual harassment at least once. The most commonly reported examples were:

• Receiving unwanted romantic attention from a male (67 percent)


• Hearing demeaning gender-related comments (62 percent)


• Being teased about their appearance (58 percent)


• Receiving unwanted physical contact (51 percent)


• Being teased, bullied, or threatened with harm by a male (28 percent)

At least 52 percent of the girls also said they had heard at least one discouraging comment about their math, science, and computer abilities related to their sex.

In addition, more than three-fourths of girls (76 percent) said they had also heard such discouraging comments about their athletic ability.

The source of sexual harassment and sexist comments was most often close male friends and brothers (25 percent) and other boys (32 percent), followed by teachers or coaches (23 percent) and close female friends or sisters (18 percent) and other girls (22 percent).

Parents were not as common a source (fathers 15 percent; mothers 12 percent).

The survey also showed that girls who were of lower socioeconomic status reported higher rates of sexual harassment than girls with higher socioeconomic status. Older girls were more likely to report sexual harassment and sexism than younger girls.

Researchers say awareness of gender issues also played a role in how the girls perceived sexual harassment and sexism. Girls who had learned about feminism from the media or people they knew, such as their mothers or teachers, were more likely to recognize sexual harassment and sexism.

Researchers say recognizing when sexism occurs is a crucial first step toward overcoming discrimination. "Otherwise, it is more likely that individuals attribute failure to their lack of ability rather than to the obstacles in their environment," says Leaper.

[hypnotoad72]

But like someone else said women want men to make the first move to initiate everything yet get mad we do if you dont like us.

ps if the guy is persistent and thinks you are playing hard to get just efing say you have no chance with me just give up and have fun in your dreams....

Posted by theantirick
------------------------------

And men need to understand women have the right to say "no". It''s called "civility". Sexual feelings are a part of life. It is NOT "repression" to have consideration for other people. And while some conservatives are caught being hypocrites, the "liberals" who say "sexual repression is wrong!" totally forget that pesky concept of consideration for others, mostly because it contradicts "accept our lifestyle of polygamy, threesomes, disease spreading orgies, and my favorite horse!"

[hypnotoad72]

I shall reiterate: School uniforms. Do not allow fraternizing of students (same or opposite gender, so the fringe groups can''t whine either). Do not allow disobedience.

We didn''t have all these kid problems back in the day when they were slapped on the wrist for *gasp* chewing gum. Now they can do much more than wear offensive heavy metal t-shirts and nobody bats an eye. Our society DOES have problems and FEW want to mention any solutions. Why? Because they get lambasted by a bunch of non-thinking doorknobs, that''s why!

[primilioneah]

I am starting to wonder if or why the Republican Party has run out of ideas that can help move forward this country.

[skinnyminny2]

Any unwanted physical attention can be resolved with a swift a$$-kicking (worked for me...and I was a small girl). Better to be known as the one who might bust you up than the one to pick on.

[theantirick]

"Unwanted attention from a male" means "I''''m out of his league and he''''s too stupid to know it."

Posted by Neo267 at 07:53 PM : May 15, 2008

so is it that hard to tell him that or give him a nasty look??? that usually stops the advances at you??

Every woman has to learn how to say no at some point in their lives. sooner the better (up to a certain point tho lmao). Its the nature of men and woman. Basically every mans goal in said day is to get laid and it wont happen unless we try.
The female in every species of animal picks their suitor from crowd gawking at them.

But like someone else said women want men to make the first move to initiate everything yet get mad we do if you dont like us.

ps if the guy is persistent and thinks you are playing hard to get just efing say you have no chance with me just give up and have fun in your dreams....

[neo267-2009]

"Unwanted attention from a male" means "I''m out of his league and he''s too stupid to know it."

[bluestardad]

LETS SEE IF THE ACLU WILL SUPPORT WOMEN REGISTERING FOR THE DRAFT WHEN THEY TURN 18 LIKE MEN HAVE TO!

[bluestardad]

REGISTER FOR THE DRAFT WHEN YOU TURN 18 LIKE MEN HAVE TO...AND SERVE IN THE MILITARY FOR THE RIGHTS YOU NOW ENJOY!

EQUAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES!

AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!

[percival08]

First as a guy, want to say that I totally understand the offensiveness of many of the things mentioned in this article. No one should have to put up with sexual harassment or unfair treatment. To all the guys, if any of us have every done such things, we need to take responsibility for how our actions affect others and do better. Also, as someone who is currently in college in the field of education, particularly disturbing is unfair treatment of girls from professional educators who should absolutely know better!

Having said that, I also take major issue with the assertion that "receiving unwanted romantic attention from a male" somehow automatically equals sexual harassment. If what the authors actually meant was "REPEATEDLY receiving unwanted romantic attention from the SAME male" (after telling him you are not interested), then yes, that would be harassment. But simply being asked by someone you%u2019re not interested in is NOT harassment.

[bm6005]

In addition, more than three-fourths of girls (76 percent) said they had also heard such discouraging comments about their athletic ability.

Have you idiots ever heard what boys say to boys who are awkward at athletics? It has nothing to do with gender.

[staycalm]

Sexual harassment and sexism are two different things! Sexism is when females are prevented from participating in a traditionally male endeavor simply because of their gender. Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual attention. It is a lack of respect for a female''s privacy and a dehumanization of her as a person. At least fifty percent of the songs kids listen to are a glorification of sexual harassment except that their lyrics try to make it sound like the female wants it, or at least that''s the male fantasy. It should come as no surprise that kids will act out what they listen to all day. I have seen young girls refer to themselves as *** and laugh in a kind of impotent surrender to this culture that has overwhelmed them. I hear them talk about hooking up and realize that they have never been asked out on a date. They have never had a boy get up the courage to call them and ask them out, save some money to pay for dinner and a movie, pick them up and take them back home...all the things that made their mothers and grandmothers feel special. It''s become a "Girls Gone Wild" world because girls don''t know any other way to be. Through it all I ask, "Where are the adults?" By adult I don''t mean a grown-up who tries to act cool, I mean a grown-up with some maturity who''s not afraid to speak out and risk being jeered at because what''s at stake here is the future of our world, the future of our daughters who we once treasured as our little angels, now grown up and expected to be porn stars.

[shanev137]

Posted by hypnotoad72 at 04:51 PM : May 15, 2008


Good luck with that hypno. Your plan will make many lawyers very rich.

"Codes, rules and discipline" are viewed as a form of abuse that people sue over now.

Btw....anyone can get aids. You should know that by now.

[hypnotoad72]

Everyone should just become gay and we''''ll never have to worry about this anymore.

Posted by shanev137
------------------

And all die of AIDS? No thank you.

I maintain, bring back public school dress code and rules; like they once were 50 years ago. Harsh, maybe, but nobody complained about outfits, carried arms, drugs, or even chewing gum...

[shanev137]

Everyone should just become gay and we''ll never have to worry about this anymore.

[dan9111]

Feminism has been a major part of the move away from circumcision in the US.

Posted by ge556

Against women, nobody is allowed to ask the harrasser "why" they were motivated, or use that as an excuse or alternative to the "discrimination theory". We are told the intentions do not matter. Regarding feminists, what rubbish. Gender feminists have actively blocked access to men to receive treatment for domestic violence (under VAWA). They most certainly have deaf ears when it comes to male pain. If you read "School Success by Gender: A Catalyst for the Masculinist Discourse", this tax-paid feminism report basically identifies anti-circumcision groups as "hate groups". Clearly there is denial concerning harassment of males by females who think they are entitled to mutilate.

Additionally, it is hard to take seriously the feminist who protests "unwanted attention", yet has clearly inflicted sexual violence on her own son. Once she inflicts harassment (as only the victim can define!), it is useless for her to argue for morality.

The same is true with genital mutilation. Enduring a foolish comment is easier than having a lifelong physical scar in the crotch. The feminist champions of "gender equality" are suddenly silent and brutal to their own when they prefer to mutilate their son and not their daughter.

Funny how quick they are to intentionally inflict lopping off foreskins and then get defensive about perpetrating clear child abuse. The hoax of women-as-victim is done and over.

Posted by Dan9111 at 02:53 PM : May 15, 2008

===

You are way off base if you think that feminists are more likely to circumcise than other women of the same religion, background, etc. People circumcise their sons because it is considered normal, or even required, by the culture, and because the dad wants him to "look like me".
Feminism has been a major part of the move away from circumcision in the US.

[asinine1]

The feminist champions of "gender equality" are suddenly silent and brutal to their own when they prefer to mutilate their son and not their daughter...The hoax of women-as-victim is done and over.
Posted by Dan9111

I don''t think there is any question that overall, women are treated worse than men, especially in poorer. I don''t think genital mutilation has anything to do with this topic anyway.

P.S. everyone, I''m sorry about the triple post, earlier, it was unintentional.

[dr_j_g]

cbscrash07- If someone points put faults of your society it is racist, but you have a legal permission from God to comment on a nation you never lived in or even visited? You have dating agencies and ads too, not so different from trying to find someone through various channels as in India with systematic search - but you have wool pulled over your eyes in name of love while you ad for swf or whatever and pretend it is love. Very few people find love, most find someone congenial and attractive of similar interests if they are lucky, and nobody can afford to wait to find love unless they don''t care about children or even marriage, since God doesn''t guarantee you will find your soulmate befoer you are ninety-five if then. You have pride in your total lack of support system for women socially to find a person when they are ready, but no concern about lack of security for young women in education or careers, and none for young mothers either in marriage or even in divorce; not even protection from a partner kicking or generally attacking a pregnant woman, or an employer verbally abusing and/or firing a pregnant employee. You really think you can comment on an ancient society surviving and doing well in respects you have not heard of?

[dan9111]

"Funny how those who never have to deal with it, or perpetrate it are always so quick and defensive to say it doesn''''t exist, or is no big deal."
Posted by SusanHelit

The same is true with genital mutilation. Enduring a foolish comment is easier than having a lifelong physical scar in the crotch. The feminist champions of "gender equality" are suddenly silent and brutal to their own when they prefer to mutilate their son and not their daughter.

Funny how quick they are to intentionally inflict lopping off foreskins and then get defensive about perpetrating clear child abuse. The hoax of women-as-victim is done and over.

[asinine1]

I can definitely understand that most of the thins on that list are improper behaviors.

However, those of you who believe "receiving unwanted romantic attention from a male" is in itself a form of sexual harassment have absolutely no clue what it is like being a young man. First, he is told he has to "make the first move" and "be persistent." If she accepts, then great. Otherwise, is he to be viewed as somehow deviant for daring to bother her with his affection?

Maybe she just wants to be friends he naively accepts because, of course, he really likes her and wants to be her friend. It works for awhile, but all the time, she grows farther and farther apart because she already knows the extent of how he really feels and this makes her "uncomfortable."

As long as humans have been on earth, males have been attracted to females, and vice versa and it isn''t always reciprocated. Unless he starts doing the other stuff on the list, please don''t treat him like some kind of pervert just because he likes you.