Harassment In Schools Research Articles

“Transgenders are not dinosaurs!” Stigma faced by transgender women in their daily lives in India: implications for research and policy

Background Transgender women face stigma that adversely impacts their mental wellbeing. The stigma can be self-directed (internal), discrimination, violence and hatred directed towards them by others, mostly cis-gender persons (interpersonal stigma) and discrimination faced at the level of institutional arrangements (structural stigma). Methods This was an exploratory study that used qualitative methods of data collection (focused group discussions and in-depth interviews) to gather data from consenting adult trans women who lived in the city of Kolkata situated in the eastern state of West Bengal in India. Results The findings showed that trans women faced the trauma of non-acceptance and even rejection by their families when they began to express their chosen gender. Their gender non-conforming behaviour made them the butt of ridicule and harassment in school, resulting in many of them not finishing school. This made finding employment difficult. The trans women study participants also faced harassment at the hands of the police and from hospital staff, making them reluctant to approach the police for help and seek treatment from health providers for their physical as well as mental health concerns. Conclusions It is important for researchers to be cognizant of the challenges faced by trans women/transgender people while designing and conducting research. It is also important for policymakers to make gender affirming policies to mitigate and eliminate the stigma that transgender people are subject to thereby promoting their wellbeing.

Conceptualising school-level responses to sexual harassment of women teachers as institutional gaslighting

This paper conceptualises the inaction of school leadership teams in response to systemic sexual harassment as institutional gaslighting, a theoretical tool to date unutilised in studies of sexual harassment in educational settings. Drawing on case studies of two women teachers who experienced sustained sexual harassment in Australian schools, and whose leadership responded with denial, minimisation and intentional mixed messaging, we argue that schools are home to and perpetuate unequal epistemic terrains, where women’s knowing is under­mined by dominant operations of the school that work to maintain structural and cultural norms. These norms, we suggest, are informed by hegemonic masculinity and feminine stereotypes of irrationality and deviance, and prevent violence against women in schools being addressed. We argue that institutional gaslighting is a productive concept to expose the epistemic injustice that delegitimates women’s knowledge of their experience and help in addressing systemic issues with responding to sexual harassment in schools.

"Transgenders are not dinosaurs!" Stigma faced by transgender women in their daily lives in India: implications for research and policy.

Transgender women face stigma that adversely impacts their mental wellbeing. The stigma can be self-directed (internal), discrimination, violence and hatred directed towards them by others, mostly cis-gender persons (interpersonal stigma) and discrimination faced at the level of institutional arrangements (structural stigma). This was an exploratory study that used qualitative methods of data collection (focused group discussions and in-depth interviews) to gather data from consenting adult trans women who lived in the city of Kolkata situated in the eastern state of West Bengal in India. The findings showed that trans women faced the trauma of non-acceptance and even rejection by their families when they began to express their chosen gender. Their gender non-conforming behaviour made them the butt of ridicule and harassment in school, resulting in many of them not finishing school. This made finding employment difficult. The trans women study participants also faced harassment at the hands of the police and from hospital staff, making them reluctant to approach the police for help and seek treatment from health providers for their physical as well as mental health concerns. It is important for researchers to be cognizant of the challenges faced by trans women/transgender people while designing and conducting research. It is also important for policymakers to make gender affirming policies to mitigate and eliminate the stigma that transgender people are subject to thereby promoting their wellbeing.

Challenging violence in South African education: a feminist pedagogical and legal analysis

AbstractThis study investigates the relevance of violence in the context of South African education, a country which has a history of institutionalised violence against the oppressed, including women. Using a feminist pedagogy as a theoretical lens, violence and its implications for the South African educational system are examined. Scholars such as Freire believe that in order to engage the topic of violence in education, it needs to be framed not only from a physical, but also from a structural and symbolic way since violence is deeply rooted in social inequalities and power imbalances. Violence can be perpetuated through education, which can reproduce dominant ideologies and structures which are biased against women. Therefore, Freire advocates a pedagogical approach that challenges violence and empowers students to become critical agents of social change. In the South African educational environment, violence is a prevalent issue, especially for women and girls who face high rates of gender-based violence and sexual harassment in schools. This research also examines the relevant legal frameworks and policies in South Africa that address gender-based violence and education. This research proposes a feminist pedagogy can help create safe and empowering learning environments that promote social justice and equality.

Prevention of, and response to, sexual harassment at secondary school: A system map

BackgroundSexual harassment in secondary school is common but only recently acknowledged as a widespread problem in the United Kingdom. There is limited research on how schools respond to incidents of sexual harassment. The aim of this study was to understand how school systems shape the dynamics of disclosure, reporting and handling of sexual harassment in school (including behaviours, processes, norms), and to identify opportunities for effecting systems change. MethodsWe used participatory systems mapping to elicit school stakeholders' perspectives on systems factors and their connections. Researchers built the map based on in-person workshops with students (n = 18) and staff (n = 4) from three schools in Scotland. Survey data (n = 638 students; n = 119 staff) was used to augment participant perspectives. The map was validated via three workshops (two online, one in-person) involving students and staff from seven schools. ResultsThe final map (causal loop diagram) represents a hypothesised system of 25 causally connected factors and three feedback loops shaping the disclosure, reporting and handling of sexual harassment. We grouped these factors into four interlinked themes: 1] Knowledge and confidence; 2] Trust in reporting system and processes; 3] Communication, confidentiality and safeguarding; and, 4] Prioritisation of sexual harassment. Conclusions and implicationsThis study highlights the interconnectedness of factors shaping disclosure, reporting and handling of sexual harassment within secondary schools. The map surfaces key challenges for schools and provides a foundation for learning and discussions on where to focus efforts in future.

Scheme tackles harassment in schools

London borough develops education programme to teach young people about how to respond to sexual harassment if witnessed

The how’s and how often’s of school harassment: How do they influence the academic achievement of adolescents over time?

A vast body of literature shows that school harassment is negatively associated with academic achievement, particularly in elementary and middle schools. Few studies have examined the influence of forms and frequencies of harassment—whether relational, verbal, cyber, or physical—on academic performance in high schools. We investigate how the how’s and when’s of harassment are associated with the academic achievement of adolescents over time in Chile, using standardized test scores of a sample of schoolchildren (n = 80,117) and fixed effect models. We find that being physically bullied and cyberbullied are linked to poor academic performance, whereas verbal and social abuse are not. These results underline the significance of working with disaggregated measures of harassment in school interventions at different stages.

Prioritizing Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Depression Prevalence and Risk Factors among Medical Students in Peshawar, Pakistan

Background: Depression is a significant problem among medical students worldwide, affecting their well-being and potentially compromising patient care. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among medical students in Peshawar, Pakistan, and to identify the associated risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2023, involving medical students from seven colleges in Peshawar. We employed stratified sampling to distribute surveys to students. We collected data on socio-demographic characteristics, prevalence of depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and depression risk factors. We used multivariate logistic regression, clustered by university, to assess factors associated with depression. Results: Out of 400 distributed questionnaires, 324 were returned (response rate: 81%). The participants' mean age was 21.70 ± 1.65 years, with 53.1% being females. The prevalence of depression was 19.4% and 26.2% were borderline cases. No variables were found to be significantly linked to depression in our multivariate regression model. However, male gender, year of study, experiencing discrimination or harassment in medical school, and having negative perceptions of medical school's impact on mental health had odds ratios above 1, with confidence intervals including the null value. Conclusion: This study reveals a high prevalence of depression among medical students in Peshawar, Pakistan. It emphasizes the need to address risk factors and establish support systems to minimize the impact of depression on students' well-being and academic performance. Further studies are necessary to identify modifiable factors associated with depression in medical students.

Zero Tolerance for Bullying: Effective Measures to Stop and Prevent Harassment in Schools

Bullying of students is a problem that is widespread in Jakarta. This bullying is caused by several factors such as parenting patterns, school, self-esteem and group norms. The aim of this research is to socialize to stop and prevent bullying at Sejahtera Vocational School. The research method uses quantitative descriptive to describe the conditions that occurred during the research. The focus of the research was Sejahtera Pare Vocational School, Kerdiri Regency, East Java with 40 students as respondents. Sampling was carried out through random sampling and data collection using a questionnaire as a tool. Quantitative Research Methods are used to research certain populations or samples. The data analysis technique uses frequency distribution. Research results Based on the analysis of the results and discussion, it can be concluded that the bullying that occurred at Sejahtera Pare Vocational School, Kadiri Regency, East Java, when viewed as a whole, is in the moderate category. This means that bullying at Sejahtera Pare Vocational School, Kediri Regency, East Java needs to be watched out for so that it can be minimized as much as possible.

Attitude and Perception as Associated Risk Factors of Sexual Harassment of Secondary School Girls in Abak Lga, Akwa Ibom State

Sexual harassment occurs when people are targets of unwanted sexual comments, sexual gestures, or sexual actions and, for many years, this has been a major challenge among secondary school girls. School girls have been plagued by sexual harassment occurring in school; a place which was meant to be a safe environment where girls acquire knowledge needed for future development has become an unsafe environment where girls are sexually harassed. This study therefore examined how the perception and attitude of secondary school girls predict the possibility of their sexual harassment. To achieve the purpose of this study, 384 questionnaires were administered to secondary school girls through a 3 stage multi sampling. The data were analyzed using simple percentage and chi-square P≤0.05. The study found that students have poor perception and negative attitudes toward sexual harassment and these are risk factors of sexual harassment. The study recommends that students develop and maintain a positive perception and attitude so as to help them to avoid being sexually harassed. Students should report any case of sexual harassment in school and such complaints should be made to people in authority not just to friends and fellow students.

LGBTQ+ Students’ Sense of Belonging and Harassment: Results from the 2017–2018 School Survey on Crime and Safety

ABSTRACT Research on LGBTQ+ students and their sense of belonging in public schools is necessary; minoritized students deserve to feel safe, validated, and valued in a space where they belong. Using the 2017–2018 School Survey on Crime and Safety public-access data, we align variables to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems framework. This study explored the relationship between having an affirming sexual orientation or gender identity student club and the frequency of student harassment in high school and the predictive ability of student, teacher, and school policy factors on harassment. We found that schools with LGBTQ+ accepting school clubs had higher incidence of sexual orientation and gender identity harassment. Additionally, student involvement in restorative circles, teacher trainings, and some school contexts predicted harassment. Implications and future directions for research are discussed.

Repérer les violences sexuelles chez les adolescents suicidants. L’hospitalisation pédiatrique : un temps pour dire ? Étude rétrospective sur une population d’adolescents hospitalisés en pédiatrie

IntroductionSexual violence against minors has important psychological repercussions throughout life. In adolescents, it can result in endangerment or self-aggressive behaviour such as suicide attempts. Its detection by health professionals is therefore an important issue in order to provide these young people with appropriate medical and social care. Professional recommendations call for systematic hospitalization of adolescents who have attempted suicide, but these recommendations have not yet been widely applied. At the Robert-Ballanger hospital (Aulnay-sous-Bois, Seine-St-Denis, France), a specific protocol has been established between paediatrics and child psychiatry departments, allowing all suicidal adolescents to be hospitalized in paediatrics. We conducted a study to take advantage of this hospitalization time to better identify sexual violence in adolescents. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study based on the analysis of the medical records of 138 adolescents hospitalized in the paediatric ward and followed by the child psychiatry liaison team at the centre hospitalier Robert-Ballanger (Aulnay-sous-Bois) in 2021. ResultsWe found significantly more sexually assaulted adolescents among those hospitalized for suicidal gestures or ideas (12 out of 54; 22%) than among those hospitalized for other reasons (5 out of 84; 6%). The sexual assaults described by the adolescents concerned were consistent with data from epidemiological studies and French victimization surveys : they mainly concerned girls (14 out of 17), were repeated assaults in three quarters of cases, and were intrafamilial assaults in one third of cases. The disclosure was often made to a caregiver (for 5 of 17 adolescents). Adolescents with a history of sexual assault were more concerned with intrafamilial violence but also with school harassment. We found a significantly higher number of suicide attempts among sexually assaulted adolescents, as well as a higher number of suicide attempts requiring hospitalization in intensive care. ConclusionPaediatric hospitalization of adolescents attempting suicide appears to be an interesting tool for identifying a history of sexual assault in these young people. Our study highlights an over-representation of sexually assaulted adolescents among those treated for suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts, as well as specific factors that should be vigilantly monitored. A reassuring environment, awareness-raising among professionals, and special attention to detail could all help to improve detection and hence protection and appropriate therapeutic follow-up.

‘Just the Way it Was’- Perspectives on Sexual Harassment in Medical School and #MeToo of Women Graduating Prior to 1975

Introduction.The purpose of this study was to assess gender-based mistreatment during medical education recalled by women who attended medical school between 1948 and 1975 and their perspectives on the #MeToo movement. Methods. Qualitative analysis of video-recorded structured interviews. Results.The 37 participants graduated in classes of 2-20% women. They described pervasive, multi-faceted gender-based mistreatment during training. Twenty (54%) disclosed personal experience of serious sexual mistreatment. Interviewees stressed that attitudes and behaviors toward women and trainees, now regarded as unacceptable, were previously widely accepted or tolerated. The majority (86%) expressed overall positive opinions of their training. Twenty-eight (76%) supported the #MeToo movement, four (11%) had negative opinions, and five (13.5%) were ambivalent or unwilling to comment. Seventeen (46%) were concerned that #MeToo damaged working relationships, twelve (32%) were concerned about overreach, and eight (22%) about false accusations. Conclusions.This group of older female physicians reported extensive experience of gender-based mistreatment and strong support of #MeToo. Nevertheless, about one quarter of the group did not support the #MeToo movement and even supporters expressed high rates of concern about the movement going too far, falsely accusing men of inappropriate behavior, and damaging working relationships. The interviewees did not want their medical training to be characterized as entirely negative, or to be portrayed as victims.

Research on the Current Situation and Solutions of Sexual HarassmentTaking Adolescent Women and Middle-aged Women as Examples

Some sexual harassment is happening in school, while the regulation of sexual harassment in school is ambiguous, or even this concept is missing. The purpose of this paper is to protect the rights of sexually disadvantaged women to have a voice in society, explore measures and ways to establish a social protection system for women, and help women who have been sexually harassed to receive more social understanding and support. The paper aims to protect womens right to be heard in society, to help more women understand the measures to protect themselves from sexual harassment, and to raise social awareness of the topic of sexual harassment. The structure of this study is as follows: First, this paper will explore the existing policies to prevent sexual harassment on campus and in the workplace at home and abroad, identify the existing measures and their development process, and discover the unresolved problems and policy gaps. Secondly, the paper will investigate the attitudes and responses to sexual harassment of well-educated adolescents and experienced middle-aged people in the workplace, and analyze the behavior of the above groups to understand the current situation. By analyzing the behaviors of the above groups, people can understand the current situation, discover the natural responses of the sexually vulnerable groups under the existing policies and explore potential solutions to fill the gaps. Finally, by comparing the results of the interviews with the current rules and regulations, it is concluded that the existing system of sexual harassment prevention should be improved.

‘I’d be in my school uniform’: the informal curriculum of street harassment

ABSTRACT A growing body of literature has documented the pervasive occurrence of harassment in schools, and street-based harassment. However, to date there has been little attention to street-based harassment occurring in school-related contexts, such as walking to and from school in uniform. In this article, we aim to address this gap by exploring findings from 47 qualitative interviews with individuals who have experienced street and public harassment in Australia. Street harassment was commonly encountered by participants while they were in their school uniform, and beginning high school was often associated with the onset or increased intensity of street harassment. Drawing on Foucault’s concept of disciplinary power and feminist theorisation on embodiment, we argue that street harassment – and school responses to this harassment – functioned as an ‘informal curriculum’ that normalized the occurrence of harassment and produced young people’s bodies as sites of risk that required surveillance, control, and careful management through engagement in safety work.

Legal Impediments To Protection From Sexual Harassment In Nigerian Universities

Across the globe sexual harassment as a global epidemic is one of the most widespread age-long social problems and crimes against woman albeit with varied pervasiveness and practice within the universities. Research on female students’ experience of violence in UK campuses found that one in four respondents had experienced unwanted sexual behaviour. In USA about 300,000 women are raped and 3.7 million are confronted with unwanted sexual activity annually while at Jimma University in Ethiopia, of 385 women at the University, 78.2% had experienced different forms of harassment. Consequences of sexual harassment in higher education include unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, increased alcohol use impaired career opportunities, reduced job motivation, decreased job satisfaction, decreased self-confidence and self-image, and more. Nine out of ten of the world’s countries have laws against sexual harassment in working life today, but almost six out of ten lack adequate laws against sexual harassment in higher education and schools. Nigeria is certainly not exempted. The paper finds that in spite of the efforts of the Nigerian government to combat this systemic epidemic the problem has not abated. Therefore, using the doctrinal research methodology, the paper examines the legal impediments to protection from sexual harassment in Nigerian universities with a view to proffering some recommendations towards elimination of the endemic problem in Nigerian Universities

Racism, Discrimination, and Harassment in Medical Schools in the UK: A Scoping Review

Background: Discrimination, racism, harassment, stereotyping, and bullying are a significant issue for medical students as they create a hostile environment with detrimental effect on student wellbeing and educational experience. Findings suggest that though prevalent, reporting of these experiences is rare and perceived as ineffective. Objectives: This scoping review aims to map the trends, types, and nature of discrimination, harassment, bullying, stereotyping, intimidation, and racism reports in undergraduate medical education in the UK since 2010 and to determine areas of focus for undertaking full systematic reviews in the future. Method: A search was conducted using the MEDLINE, AHMED, CINHL, and EMBASE electronic databases from 2010 up to February 2022 in English. Only primary research papers (e.g., cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and case series) that report the words/phrases discrimination (including gender and racial), harassment (including verbal, sexual, academic, and physical), bullying, stereotype, intimidation, and racism within medical education in the UK after 2010, following the Equity Act 2010, were eligible for inclusion. Results: Five relevant articles relating to discrimination, harassment, bullying, stereotyping, intimidation, and racism in medical schools in the UK were included. Three themes were identified across these studies. Conclusions: The data suggest that there is a high prevalence rate of discrimination, harassment, and stereotyping being experienced by ethnic minority undergraduate medical students in the UK. There is underreporting due to perceived and structural barriers. The identified studies suggest that less progress has been made in these areas.

Friends, peers and safeguarding

Friends, peers and safeguarding

The role of law and moral in establishing countermeasures against sexual harassment

Since sexual harassment is prevalent amongst women and becoming common amongst the middle school children, there is more demand for legal action. Surveys conducted by non-profit organizations show a high level of victimization, but there are often cases of constant concealment, silence about such facts of offenses. This article aims to discuss the role of law and morale in dealing with sexual harassment. On the one hand, it discusses the nature of legal definition of harassment and the difficulty in proving the act due to the presence of a subjective component. Inability to enforce the law will turn it merely into a symbolic measure. On the other hand, lack of law enforcement does not mean that the norm on sexual harassment will not have a deterrent effect. The existence of a legal norm will avert the crime, yet it will be difficult to measure the number of prevented offences. Equally important is to highlight that sexual violence is common place amongst the middle school children across the globe and gaining visibility in Kazakhstan. For that reason, the article discusses advantages and limitations of various interventions that aim to prevent sexual harassment in schools. With many interventions being of single program character, authors recommend systematic strategies that tackle harassment on the individual, family, and community level.

Bullying or School Harassment

Bullying or school harassment Although in our environment we have only found a single article about this phenomenon, published in the Cuban Journal of Comprehensive General Medicine, the topic has been little discussed by island child and adolescent psychologists and psychiatrists.