Sexual Harassment and Bullying Prevention 7 th Grade

Perception Squares

What is Sexual Harassment? Sexual harassment is unwanted and unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature in the form of visual, verbal, or physical conduct, which can lead to a hostile environment.

What is Bullying? Physical or psychological harassment on the part of one or more students towards another. Bullying is when a person or group of people repeatedly uses words or actions to intentionally cause physical or emotional harm toward another person –Bully, victim and bystander

Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR& R) Cursing, gesturing, or verbally abusing any person, including but not limited to abuse or harassment based on the person’s race, religion, gender, creed, national origin, personal or physical attributes, disability, or intellectual ability and matters pertaining to sexuality. Any student who is subjected to physical or verbal harassment shall report such immediately to the appropriate school, area, or central office official. (Use current year definition)

SEXUAL HARASSMENT/BULLYING CAN BE: Verbal Humor and jokes about sex or gender specific trait Insults Repeated insinuations Suggestive comments Sexual rumors Suggestive or insulting sounds Threats Whistling

Nonverbal Instant Messaging Cell phone text messaging and digital pictures Graffiti Suggestive looks Messages of sexual nature on clothing Obscene gestures Any written/pictorial communication or notes of a sexual nature Cyber bullying

CYBERBULLYING The use of electronic information and communication devices to bully, intimidate, or harass an individual or group through personal attacks or other means. Cyberbullying falls into 3 categories: 1.Impersonation – Pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material online that make that person look bad, gets that person in trouble or danger, or damages that person’s reputation. 2.Outing and Trickery – Sharing someone’s secret or embarrassing information online. Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information which is then shared online. 3.Exclusion – Intentionally excluding someone form an on-line group, like a “buddy list.”

CYBERBULLYING Many forms of cyberbullying occur in the following formats: Myspace Facebook Youtube Personal Blogs or Websites Voting/Polling Booths Text Messaging Chat rooms

Physical Brushing the body Forced sexual contact or assault Pinching Inappropriate touching and hugging

What is the difference between flirting and sexual harassment? Should be a shared or mutual interest between both parties. Sometimes your values, culture, and past experiences impact how you see these behaviors.

What can you do? 1.In some cases you can ask the harasser/bully to stop and that you don’t like the behavior –Passive/Unsure, Aggressive/Dominant, Assertive/Confident 2.Tell someone (Who can you tell?) –Remember Details –Counselor, Teacher, or administrator 3.Harassment/bullying is against the law and you can report to police

As a bystander, what can you do? Stand up to the bully!!! –Tell someone –Support the victim –Speak up for the victim Why should we? –If you don’t who will? –Become a part of the caring majority –Because bullying can happen to you Why don’t we? –Fear of retaliation –Not sure of what to do or say –Afraid they might do the wrong thing and make situation worse –Afraid they will be the next target –Fear of losing social status

Stand Up to Bullying Week! Next week is International Stand Up to Bullying week: November 14 th from 3-4 in the Auditorium we will have the Jim Linehan Dance Troupe Jim Linehan Dance Troupe –We will begin giving out tickets during lunch on Thursday November 10 th November 15 th - 18 th we will be encouraging all students to sign a pledge during lunch –During PT you will be given the opportunity to participate in a poster contest The winner will receive a pizza party!

Stand Up to Bullying Pledge Today I have an obligation No longer will I be silent if you need help Silence is participation in the problem We’re all different but we all deserve respect If you need help, come to me If you think you need help, I’m getting involved I GOT YOUR BACK

Stand Up to Bullying Week! November 18 th is National Stand Up to Bullying DayNational Stand Up to Bullying Day –Schools all over the nation participate on this day by wearing pink. During the week, your PT teachers will be showing you different videos related to Stand Up to Bullying Week. –Why pink?Why pink?

Scenario Card Group Discussion What type of harassment? Why? (There can be more than one type of harassment.) How should the person handle this situation?

Scenarios Every day after lunch, two boys enjoy standing beside a hall entryway that many students pass through. As they watch, they rate each girl walking by with a number and sometimes a comment (“She’s a five!”) These comments are loud enough for the girls and others in the hallway to hear. For two days a group of boys and girls on the bus make loud kissing sounds as a certain girl gets on the bus. The girl quickly finds a seat and sits down.

Scenarios As a girl walks into school, two boys stop on either side of her and sandwich her between them. They keep her between them for about 15 seconds, rubbing up against her as she tries to move away. The same thing happened to her friend the week before. A female student is angry because her old boyfriend is interested in someone else. She starts rumors about what he and his new girlfriend did on the weekend. He complains to his counselor.

Scenarios A group of girls are in the bathroom ranking other girls. One girl asks if everyone saw what another girl was wearing today, comments on her lack of taste and states that no boy would ever be interested in her. Her best friend is standing nearby and hears these comments. An eighth grade boy puts his arm around a shy seventh grade girl. She tries to squirm away from him. She had previously asked him not to do that.