Sexual bullying is a serious issue that needs to be tackled, read on to learn more... Sexual bullying covers a wide range of behaviour from name calling to physical sexual assault. It is as serious as racism and needs to be treated as such by parents, teachers and society in general.
In extreme cases prejudice-motivated bullying and harassment can also be considered a hate crime. (For the Home Office definition of hate crime see www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/hate-crime/)
Generally, sexual harassment and bullying is experienced by women and girls and is usually perpetrated by men and boys.
The NUT defines sexism as, “Behaviour, language or prejudice, which expresses institutionalised, systematic and comprehensive discrimination. It is based on a stereotypical view of masculine and feminine roles. Sexism limits the options of women and girls and can lead to discrimination or less favourable treatment. It is learned behaviour, however, and can therefore be 'unlearned'”. (NUT, Policy Statement on Preventing Sexual Harassment and Bullying, 2007,www.teachers.org.uk)
Examples of sexist incidents include:
- Abusive, sexualised name calling
- Unwelcome looks and comments about someone's appearance or attractiveness; either face to face or to others
- Spreading rumours of a sexual nature
- Inappropriate and uninvited touching
- Inappropriate sexual innuendo and/or proposition
- Graffiti with sexual content
- Display/circulation of inappropriate material of a sexual nature
- Badges or clothing depicting inappropriate sexual innuendo or language
- In its most extreme form, sexual assault or rape
There is evidence that sexual bullying is increasing and it is linked to domestic violence and other gender-based violence such as rape and sexual assault. For example, the Youth Justice Board has reported a 20% rise in the number of children being given court orders and warnings for sex offences, up from 1,664 in 2002/3 to 1,988 in 2006.
A survey in 2005 by the teenage girls’ magazine 'Sugar' (in partnership with the NSPCC) polled nearly 2000 young women and found that 1 in 6 had already been hit by their boyfriends. Generally, this survey revealed an abusive undercurrent to much of the girls’ early sexual experimentation. Another 'Sugar'/NSPCC readers' poll in 2006 revealed that nearly half (45%) of teenage girls surveyed had been groped against their wishes. 56% of unwanted sexual experiences occurred for the first time when girls were under 14. 51% of unwanted sexual experiences occurred more than once and left girls feeling dirty (47%), ashamed/guilty (39%), worried/insecure (36%), angry (34%), powerless (30%), and frightened (27%). Nationally, the majority of reported rapes are from under 18's; in London this accounts for nearly half of all reported rapes. (Making the Grade, 2006)
What these statistics appear to show is that the increasing sexualisation of society can be confusing to young people who are unsure about what is acceptable in sexual activity or how far is ‘too far’. Boys clearly are not respectful of girls, and this must be concerning to all parents. Of equal concern is that of those girls surveyed who had been pushed into doing something they didn’t want, nearly half had been made to feel guilty for saying ‘no’.
Sexual bullying can undermine the dignity and safety of girls as well as affect their emotional wellbeing and lead to depression, isolation, eating disorders and self-harming.
The What you can do section contains some suggestions for parents who wish to address the issue of sexual bullying.