Sexual Harassment Faced by Half of US Students, Survey Reveals

An alarming forty-eight percent of US middle and high school students had been subjected to sexual harassment, both in person and online according to a national survey revealed on Monday
And 87 percent of those students said the experience had a negative impact on them, according to the survey of 1,965 students in grades seven through 12 conducted by the Association of American University Women (AAUW).
"Sexual harassment is part of everyday life in middle and high schools," said the 76-page report, which follows the Washington-based charity's previous investigation of bullying in schools.
"Sexually harassed students who took part in the AAUW survey reported having trouble studying, not wanting to go to school, and feeling sick to their stomach," it said.
Some students stayed home from school. Others skipped classes, dropped after-school activities, took different routes to and from school, or changed schools altogether.
Yet only nine percent ever reported incidents to their teachers or guidance counselors, said the report, which called upon educators to be more proactive in addressing the issue.
"For some students, understanding that sexual harassment can indeed be a big deal for other students is a necessary first step," the report said.
Girls were more likely to be sexually harassed than boys by a wide margin of 56 percent versus 40 percent, both in person and through emails, social media or text messaging.
Thirty-three percent of all respondents said they had been the targets of sexual comments, jokes or gestures, and 13 percent of girls -- and three percent of boys -- reported being touched in an unwelcome sexual way.