Hands Off! A Lesson in How to Deal With Inappropriate Touching at School

Boys will be boys.  That used to be the saying when kids acted inappropriately.  Today things have changed and schools are taking a no tolerance policy.  But nothing can be done unless someone speaks up.  One teenaged girl did and I hope we learn from her experience and her bravery.

A 16 year old girl was being harassed at school. For weeks, two boys not only harassed her verbally but they also touched her in inappropriate places.  They made fun of her breasts, which were growing, as most teenaged girls breast do.  They touched her chest and even slapped her butt as she walked by.

She asked the boys to stop, but the harassment continued, until one day she'd had enough.  The teen went to a teacher for help and with today's no tolerance policy in most schools, the situation was addressed immediately.  She filled out the proper forms to report the incident and the boys and their parents were called into the Principals office for a meeting the next day.  Both parents were appalled at their child's behavior and are making them write apology letters to the girl.  They'll have plenty of time to do so since both were suspended for their behavior.

Most kids wouldn't have stood up and said something for fear of embarrassment or fear of being labeled a tattletale.  It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman, what age you are, what you're wearing or where you're from, when someone touches you inappropriately, it is not acceptable.

Boys may be boys and men may be men, but it takes the courage of a 16 year old girl to prove women can be women, who should stand up for whats right.  Lets learn from her experience and speak out.

There are plenty of resources online on how to deal with sexual harassment at school.  Check out 7 Tips on How to Deal with Sexual Harassment at School or Dealing with Sexual Harassment. There are also places to get information on sexual harassment in the workplace.  Check out the Equal Rights Advocates website for details.