Sexual Harassment

Before Title IX

Making sexual innuendos, calling people sexually charged names, spreading rumors about sexual activity, or touching someone inappropriately used to be dismissed as "boys will be boys" type of behavior at best, and rude or crude at worst.

Since Title IX

Sexual harassment in education includes any unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior that significantly interferes with a student's access to educational opportunities. The Supreme Court has confirmed that schools have an obligation under Title IX to prevent and addressharassment against students, whether perpetrated by peers or by employees of the school system.

Why Title IX Is Still Critical

Sexual harassment in schools is still totally commonplace -- for girls and boys. Here are some sobering statistics:

Eight in 10 students experience some form of harassment during their school years, and more than 25% of them experience it often.
Girls are more likely than boys to experience sexual harassment, but boys today are more likely to be harassed than boys were in 1993.
60% of students experience physical sexual harassment at some point in their school years.
Typical harassment complaints still include: making sexual comments, jokes, gestures, or looks; claiming that a person is gay or lesbian (although note that harasment basedon secual orientation is not directly covered y Title IX); spreading sexual rumors about a person; touching, grabbing or pinching someone in a sexual way; intentionally brushing up against someone in a sexual way; and flashing or "mooning" someone.

Take Action

Ask the Secretary of Education to Support Title IX

RELATED EXPLORATION

Fallout from Fresno State's Multi-Million Dollar Cases

Valley Title IX advocate named Woman of the Year
Fresno State's Milutinovich honored for unwavering commitment to gender equity

The California State Senate honored Diane Milutinovich, Associate Athletic Director emeritus of California State University Fresno, as the Sixteenth Senate District's Woman of the Year for her many contributions to women's athletics and her unwavering fight for gender equity in higher education. Milutinovich recently retired from Fresno State after 27 years as a highly-respected coach and athletics administrator. Her strong advocacy for gender equity ultimately led to her removal from the athletics department, spurring charges of gender discrimination and resulting in a $3.5 million settlement by the University in 2007.

Explore this case Read More

Davis, Aurelia v. Monroe County Board of Education

In December 1992, a fifth-grader named LaShonda was the victim of prolonged sexual harassment from a boy who sat next to her in class at Hubbard Elementary School in Monroe County, Georgia.