Sexual Harassment in Talbot County Public Schools: 2000 and 2003 Susan M. Lester Talbot County Public Schools

Statement of the Problem Sexual harassment is pervasive in secondary schools. Girls consider sexual harassment a problem. Behavior happens in public places. Students have difficulty getting help.

Purpose of the study To determine if Talbot County’s prevention and maintenance efforts have produced the desired attitudes about sexual harassment among students in grades 8 through 11.

Sexual Harassment Prevention Program Implementation Timeline Drama Dept. Play Cultural Diversity and Tolerance of Individual Differences. Volunteer leaders trained from each school Easton High School students shown video; Pay Attention. TCPS harassment policy reviewed. MSDE trained school volunteers. Management team, faculty and staff trained Continued training of faculty and staff, media materials collected Training for all students in grades 6 to 12. Videos, survivor testimony, pamphlets, TAP MSDE Nondiscrimination Sexual Harassment Policy. Easton AAUW branch conducted replication of the 1993 national survey in TCPS. Grants obtained Beyond Hostile Hallways published. Coordinate with other efforts, efforts to include parents, etc.

Research Questions Question 1 Have the number, type, location and sources of sexual harassment changed from 2000 to 2003 for male and female students in grades 8 through 11 in the Talbot County Public School system? Question 2 Are there differences between the 2000 and 2003 students in grades 8 through 11 regarding: Awareness of sexual harassment? Fear of being sexually harassed?

Research Questions Question 3 Are there differences between minority and non-minority students in Talbot County Public Schools in middle and high school students from 2000 and 2003 in: Numbers of sexual harassment incidents identified? Types of sexual harassment incidents experienced? Location of sexual harassment incidents? Question 4 Has sexual harassment had any educational, emotional, or behavioral impact on Talbot County middle and high school students and if so, has that impact changed between the year 2000 and 2003?

Methodology Repeated measures design using survey methodology. Survey data collected at 2 different points in time TCPS replication of previous survey TCPS survey replication of previous surveys with additional question.

Methodolgy Participants  696 males  747 females  1443 valid surveys  394 minority, (28%)  1049 non- minorities (72%) Validity Issues  Survey saturation  Researcher bias  Student maturation, exposure to media and other sources

Research Question 1 Have the number, type, location and sources of sexual harassment changed from 2000 to 2003 for male and female students in grades 8 through 11 in the Talbot County Public School System?

Type of sexual harassment incidents for males and females Sexual comments, jokes, gestures, looks. Touched, grabbed, or pinched in a sexual way. Victim of sexual rumors. Called gay or lesbian. Percent of TCPS students who reported incidents of sexual harassment male n= n= female n= n=

Location of sexual harassment incidents Percent of TCPS males and females from 2000 to 2003 Who reported sexual harassment Hall Hall Classroom Classroom Gym/playing field Gym/playing field Cafeteria Cafeteria Parking lot Parking lot School transportation School transportation SH Table 2.wpd female n= n= male n= n=

Source of sexual harassment incidents for males and females Student Former student Teacher Teacher’s aide SH Table 3.wpd Percent of TCPS males and females from 2000 to 2003 who were sexually harassed male female n= n= n= n=

Research Question 2 Are there differences between the 2000 and 2003 students in grades 8 through 11 regarding: Awareness of sexual harassment? Fear of being sexually harassed?

Awareness of Sexual Harassment Students feel there is less sexual harassment in 2003 St. Michael’s Middle/High School students reported the highest perception that there is a lot of sexual harassment Note: EMS includes grade 8, EHS includes grades 9-11, STMMHS includes grades 8-11

Fear of being sexually harassed Note: EMS includes grade 8, EHS includes grades 9-11, STMMS includes grades 8-11

Research Question 3 Are there differences between 2000 and 2003 minority and non-minority students in Talbot County middle and high school in: Numbers of sexual harassment incidents identified? Types of sexual harassment incidents experienced? Location of sexual harassment incidents?

Numbers of students reporting sexual harassment by grade level and race 2003 Based on question asking about most frequent occurrence of sexual comments, jokes, looks, etc. Grade (n) (n)Minority(n) Non- Minority 257%101 27% 2610%75 29% 176% 59 21% 208% 62 25%

Types of sexual harassment incidents for minority and non-minority students Sexual comments, jokes, gestures and looks Middle school (n=31) minorities 31% (n=195) non-minorities 51% High school (n=139) minorities 46% (n=444) non-minorities 44% 2000 ( n=170) Minorities 56% (n=802) Non-minorities 62% SH Table 5.wpd Touched, grabbed, pinched in a sexual way. Intentionally brushed against in a sexual way. Victim of sexual rumors Called gay or lesbian

Locations of sexual harassment incidents for minority and non-minority students Hall 2000 (n=119) Minority 71% (n=593) Non-minority 64% 2003 Middle School (n=44) Minority 70% (n=122) Non-minority 52% High School (n=80) Minority 54% (n=244) non-minority 55% Classroom Outside on school grounds Cafeteria Gym or playing field School transportation Locker area Parking lot Restroom

Research Question 4 Has sexual harassment had any educational, emotional, or behavioral impact on Talbot County middle and high school students and if so, has that impact changed between the year 2000 and 2003?

decreased decreased decreased Emotional Impact From 2000 to 2003: Feeling embarrassed decreased 18% for middle school and 11% for high school students. Being self-conscious decreased for middle school 12%, and decreased for high school 7%.

decreased 1% decreased 5% for high school students. increased for middle school by 3%, and 5% for high school. decreased for middle school by 4% and by 1% for high school students. Educational Impact From 2000 to 2003 Not talking as much in class decreased 1% for middle school students. It decreased 5% for high school students. Cutting class or staying home from school increased for middle school by 3%, and 5% for high school. Getting in trouble with school authorities decreased for middle school by 4% and by 1% for high school students.

Behavioral Impact From 2000 to 2003: Avoiding harasser increased 21% for high school students and 18% for middle school students. Changing friends decreased 3% for middle school and 1% for high school. Remainder decreased slightly.

Over-all trend of sexual harassment incidents between 2000 to 2003 Sexual harassment incidents have decreased 20% for Talbot County Public Schools after prevention program was instituted reported 81% of students experienced sexual harassment. In the 2000 survey grade 8 students reported 69% were sexually harassed. “Same” students in 2003 now in grade 11 reported 42% were harassed.

Discussion Program emphasis from 1998 to present Recent cases Middle school problems Future emphasis Earlier grades Bullying- hazing Reinforce correct terminology Small group conferences to build girls self-esteem Monthly newsletter to involve parents Visuals at school such as posters in the halls Overcome the stigma of reporting Investigate when students frequently miss school to see if there is a harassment problem.

Future Research Qualitative study Perceptions of sexual harassment with round table discussions and interviews. How to prevent bullying. The connection between being bullied and mass violence. Why are minority reports fewer than non-minority? Study of day care children Learned assertiveness or survival skills. Aggressiveness in young children. Media influence

An injustice anywhere Is an injustice everywhere. Martin Luther King Jr. Letters From a Birmingham Jail 1963