Sexual Harassment Remains Serious Problem on Campus

March 2, 2006

"Sexual harassment is not a joke and schools have a responsibility to take action," said NOW President Kim Gandy about the recently released report, Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus. "Verbal and physical harassment—committed by both sexes, but primarily against women by men—creates an environment of intimidation that undermines women students' ability to thrive and learn."

According to the research report by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation, nearly two-thirds (62%) of the 2000 college students surveyed last May said they had been subjected to sexual harassment while at college. Most of the students experienced non-contact forms of harassment such as crude jokes, remarks and gestures, but nearly one-third said the harassment involved physical contact.

Harassment Common on Campus - The survey documents the extent and effects of sexual harassment, revealing that harassment is a common part of daily life on campus. It comes in the form of verbal aggression such as jokes, offensive remarks or circulating rumors, as well as the more overt forms of physical aggression like groping, rubbing up against, pulling at clothing in a sexual manner or forcing sexual activity.

Harassment can happen anywhere: in the dorms or student housing (39%), outside on campus grounds (37%) or in classrooms or lecture halls (20%). Sexual harassment is common in both private and public colleges, large and small, but is more common at larger schools and private colleges.

Men are the Majority of Harassers - But many female students (fully one-third) admitted to harassing other students, which the report authors believe reflects a cultural shift. However that high percentage doesn't reflect the level or intensity of harassment committed by women, which is mostly in the form of verbal offenses, compared to the more physical harassment men engage in. Also, men have not traditionally been perceived as victims of sexual harassment because it is assumed that they welcome all sexual remarks and physical advances, which according to findings from this survey is not the case.

The reaction to harassment is different for men and women. Female students are more likely to feel embarrassed, angry, less confident, afraid and disappointed in their college experience than male students. Female students are also more likely to take measures to avoid their harassers, to stay away from particular buildings or places on campus or to find it hard to study or pay attention in class.

LGBT Students Often Targeted - Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students are more likely than heterosexual students to be targets of harassment, with nearly three-quarters of LGBT students reporting incidents. These same students are more often angry, embarrassed, or feel less confident (or more afraid) as a result of sexual harassment.

It appears that few college students report sexual harassment to authorities: only seven percent of students say they reported sexual harassment to a faculty member or other college employee. Virtually no one spoke with their college's Title IX coordinators even though Title IX gender equity coordinators are trained in using a Title IX sexual harassment guidance designed to counter this unacceptable behavior and to assist victims.

The AAUW report also observed that students do not talk openly and seriously about sexual harassment. However, they generally think it is a problem and agree that their college should offer a web-based confidential method for reporting it. Harassed female students are more likely than male students to tell someone, but even so, fewer than ten percent of them report harassment to a school employee, mostly because they are not aware of the resources available.

"I Thought It Was Funny" - Who harasses and why is one of the most compelling findings of the research. Forty-one percent of all students, and more than half of the men surveyed, admitted that they had sexually harassed someone on campus. The main reason invoked to justify it was: "I thought it was funny." According to Elena Silva, director of research at AAUW Educational Foundation, "Students are not harassing because they are trying to get something from the other person but because they see themselves as misunderstood comedians who are doing what is acceptable, even accepted".

Being conscious that students will graduate and bring these behaviors into the workplace and society, the AAUW report is a call-to-action to students, parents and to the collective higher education community to curb sexual harassment on campuses. Sexual harassment in the workplace is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and formal complaints can be made to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for investigation and remedial action. Also, a victim of unwelcome sexual advances could file a legal claim in court if she/he has tolerated harassment out of fear of retaliation or losing a job. The employer may be liable as well. Both Title VII and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibit sex harassment because it constitutes sex discrimination in education and the Supreme Court has directed schools to address student-to-student harassment by publishing clear guidelines.

Better Reporting Needed - "Though most colleges and universities publish guidelines about sexual harassment, they must do more, especially in light of this growing problem," NOW's Gandy said. "Confidential procedures—like a web-based reporting system—are needed, and colleges should reach out to students each year to inform them about the resources that are available if they experience sexual harassment."

Gandy continued, "Because prevention is the best solution, student activists should call, send an email message or write a letter to their college or university administrators, advocating for policies that would discourage and eventually eliminate sexual harassment."

Download a copy of the report, Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus (PDF).

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