Dealing With Sexual Harassment
Unfortunately, many girls in this world are the victims of sexual harassment. Larissa, Bridget, and I recently experienced this. We have written this article not only to help heal the hurt others have experienced, but also to help heal our own pain.
OUR STORY:
All through out seventh grade, these two eigth-grade boys, who were on our school's math team, and whom no one liked particularly well, would tease us about everything under the sun.
About halfway through the year, one of them, Andre Jamison*, started saying that the other, Robert Hayes*, liked me. Andre constantly pestered me, saying, "I'll pay you $10 to go out with Robert!", and I always told him to stuff it, or something similar. Then, they started saying stuff like, "Robin and the twins are sooooooo hot!"
This went on up until we went on a math trip to Houston for a meet. All the way up, they talked to a group of boys, Herbert Salinas*, Ben Jorgenson*, and Richard Smith* about stupid boy stuff.
Then, it started to get disgusting. Robert and Andre started their usual, "Larissa is sooooo hot!" and then they started saying worse things, like "Robin makes me horny!" Then, at one point, Robert turned around and announced to the whole bus, "I'm Bill Williamson*," (another guy on the team who gets poked fun of a lot) "and I'm a fat, ugly fag!"
Robert and Andre went on to say even more disgusting things that don't even bear repeating. When we were close to our hotel, the guys started talking about how "You're gay if you like guinea pigs," and other stupid things about gay people. Then, someone said, "I'm so straight, I'd do any girl in sight!" I happened to be the "lucky" girl sitting nearest them, and someone else said, "Then I guess you're doing Robin right now!"
Larissa, Bridget, and I decided to tell someone, because this was getting out of hand. Larissa told her parents. Her mother spoke to Mrs. Hayes*, who had come along with us, and her father told Mr. Biglesworth*, our math coach. Mr. Biglesworth, in turn, told Mr. Bedington*, our science coach. Mr. Biglesworth pulled Robert, Andre, Herbert, and Richard out of the testing room.
Mr. Biglesworth and Mr. Bedington had the entire team talk to the principal on Monday after we got back from the meet. Both Robert and Andre recieved several days of In School Suspension, and they were dismissed from the math team
WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?:
Sexual harassment is anything that anyone of the opposite sex says or does to you that implicates something sexual or sexist. It could be anything from a gesture to a word, or even something more serious, such as someone touching you in a place that makes you feel uncomfortable. It could also be a sexist comment, like "You're a girl, so you can't do anything!" Any form of sexual harassment is serious, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT:
First, tell the person who is harassing you that what they are doing is making you feel uncomfortable, and that you would like them to stop. If the problem persists, you need to tell someone: a teacher, parent, principal, councelor, or other trusted adult.
AFTER YOU'VE TOLD:
It may be hard to tell someone about your experience, but it will make you feel better. After Larissa, Bridget, and I told the principal, I came out feeling like I could conquer the world. I'm not telling you that it is fun, and you should tell on someone just for the fun of it.
If others get mad at you for telling, "Tell them that it is none of their business", to put it in the words of our wonderful councelor. Telling someone is definitely the best thing to do. Not only will you feel better, it will discourage others from bothering you, and hopefully teach the person who harassed you a lesson
DO NOT FEEL GUILTY! The only person who should feel guilty is the person who did the harassing.
OTHER INFORMATION:
This is the first year that it has been required by law for Texas Public Schools to have a section in the Conduct Guide about sexual harassment. At our school, if the offence is serious enough, it can result in expulsion. This is a major step for society! We hope other states will do the same.
*not his/her real name
- Robin 
