Race, class, and emerging sexuality: teacher perceptions and sexual harassment in schools

Abstract

Sexual harassment is a highly troubling gendered phenomenon that plagues young women on a daily basis. The way in which sexual harassment is perceived and treated is varied and is largely based on racial and class stereotypes. This paper highlights the findings from a study in which a group of middle and high school teachers were interviewed and their perceptions of sexual harassment on their campuses were discussed. What was revealed throughout this study was the way in which many teachers' notions of sexuality are conceptualised through their notions of class and race. This paper addresses how such racial and class stereotypes veil the sexual victimisation of many young women.

Policy as Punishment and Distraction: The Double Helix of Racialized Sexual Harassment of Black Girls

“…Previous literature has shown the ways Black girls are stereotyped, surveilled, and disciplined when they experience sexual harassment in schools (Epstein et al, 2017; Rahimi & Liston, 2011; Tonnesen, 2013). Wun (2016) noted, “Black women and girls are not only sexually assaulted, but denied recognition of the potential to be injured, and the injury itself” (p. 188).…”

“…Black girls were stereotyped by adults (e.g., administrators, teachers, security) in schools as being more sexually provocative because of their race and were assumed to be more sexually active (Epstein et al, 2017). Adults also suggested Black girls encouraged sexual harassment by the way they dress and act (Rahimi & Liston, 2011). Instead of being imagined as the victim of sexual harassment, Black girls were often constructed as the aggressor and disciplined for defending themselves (Tonnesen, 2013; Wun, 2016).…”

“…Studies note teachers’ complacency in Black girls being sexually harassed by their peers and their failure to protect them (Carter Andrews et al, 2019; Crenshaw et al, 2015; Onyeka-Crawford et al, 2017) because “often the sexual harassment of black female students is viewed as warranted or expected” (Rahimi & Liston, 2011, p. 804). Teachers disregarded Black girls’ reports of sexualized aggressions as just teasing and not that serious (Rahimi & Liston, 2011), or encouraged the girls to just ignore the harassment (Hill & Kearl, 2011), ergo creating a culture where sexual harassment becomes acceptable (Harris & Kruger, 2020). Consequently, Black girls and the ways they are especially susceptible to sexual harassment in schools were rendered invisible (Patton et al, 2016).…”

‘It's not bullying’, ‘It's just a joke’: Teacher and student discursive manoeuvres around gendered violence

“…Through moments of recognition, naming and abjection, both norms and their alleged departures are established and policed. Importantly, sexual and gendered harassment has strong effects on the social, emotional and academic outcomes of all students, especially girls (Rahimi & Liston, ) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or questioning (LGBTIQ) students (Payne & Smith, ). Research has shown that gendered violence erodes school engagement, adversely affects academic achievement, alienates students from teachers and activates sexist and heterosexist stereotypes to a greater extent than general ‘bullying’ does (Gruber & Fineran, ).…”

La Percepción de las Mujeres hacia las Acciones de Prevención, Denuncia y Erradicación del Hostigamiento Sexual en una Escuela del Instituto Politécnico Nacional en México

“…Oliver (2011) señala que la universidad sigue siendo del domino predominantemente masculino, en las que se producen distintas formas de misoginia y de discriminación, que afecta a las estudiantes y a las mujeres académicas, a su vez, las diferentes formas de violencia se convierten en barreras que tienen impacto negativo. Existen expresiones que son empleadas como un lenguaje misógino que les recuerda a las mujeres lo complejo que significa la vida escolar y si a lo anterior se le agrega cuestiones de raza, origen étnico, preferencia sexual o religión, todo se mezcla y se convierte para algunas mujeres un terrorismo sexual (Rahimi y Liston, 2011).…”