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What is Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment is “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature” (Riggs, 1993). Sexual Harassment on college campuses was first recognized as a problem during the early 1980s (Riggs, 1993). Students, faculty, and staff can all fall victims of sexual harassment. -
Sexual Harassment/Assault
Sexual Assault on college campuses for female students has always been a hot topic. Many female students are victims to sexual assault or harassment on their college campus. Many policies and acts have been developed to decrease the number of sexual assaulted victims. Female students should not be afraid to pursue higher education, because they could be a victim of sexual assault. -
Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972
The law requires colleges and universities receiving federal funding to combat gender-based violence and harassment, and respond to survivors’ needs in order to ensure that all students have equal access to education (Title XI, n.d.). This amendment demonstrates that higher education supports sexual assaulted victims. -
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act
This act requires post-secondary institutions to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. Was amended through 2008,requiring more specifically when and how schools must publish and distribute an Annual Security Report (Assault services knowledge, n.d.). This policy is recognizing that sexual assault nor harassment will be tolerated on campus. -
The Violence Against Women Act
This act investigates and prosecutes sex offenses by allowing for enhanced sentencing of repeat federal sex offenders; mandates restitution to victims (Assault Services Knowledge, n.d.). -
The Violence Against Women Act
This act has a major impact on higher education, because sexual offenders are now accountable for their actions and are no longer overlooked. This act has helped to put a stop against many sexual offenders from committing their first offense to committing more than one offense. This act will help many victims come forward about their assault and help them get the justice they deserve. -
Association's Committee on Women in the Academic Profession
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has helped many female faculty members to express any concerns through this committee. AAUP standing committees work on a variety of topics of importance to higher education and to faculty (AAUP). This committee is designed to help address any concerns of sexual harassment and policy suggestions to help other campuses end sexual harassments that are interfering with faculty, students, staff, and the classroom (AAUP). -
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
This is a revised act to the Violence against Women Act 1994. The revised act “improves the definition of sexual assault to include situations in which the victim lacks capacity to consent” (VAWA, n.d.). This act also allows criminal justice response to sexual assault by providing HIV testing, counseling and prophylaxis projects from victims, and rape kit backlogs (VAWA, n.d.). This act found errors in the system and sought to improve the Violence against Women Act of 1994. -
Sexual Harassment
This graphic demonstrates that sexual harassment has decreased over the years (Perry, 2014). This decrease may be, because of the many policies and acts that have been developed over the years. However a recent survey displays 1 in 4 women are victims of sexual assault (Wallace, 2015). This is still an increasingly high number and proved that more still needs to be done for women on college campuses. -
Sexual Harrassment Victims
A survey taken by CNN revealed that 1 in 4 (23%) experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact. From this survey more than 50% of the victims did not report the assault because they did not think it was serious enough to report (Wallace, 2015). -
Future of Sexual Harassment
The current policies have been effective, because sexual offenders are now held accountable for their actions and are no longer overlooked. With technology evolving it will make it easier for sexual offenders to prey. However, technology can be used to notify students of any potential crimes in the area or how to protect themselves. A policy that could be possible in the future would be to have additional security at night. This could help scare any potential sexual offenders. -
College Campuses
College campuses can implement many organizations/activities aimed towards eliminating sexual harassment. College campuses can also implement self-defense programs to help students from becoming future victims. College campuses can have programs on how to help victims who are suffering emotionally from sexual harassment. There are many methods college campuses can be involved to help end sexual harassment/assault on their campus.
