“این عکس یک مرد مسن در حال خواندن کتاب است.”

This picture shows an elderly man reading a book.
Navid Mahbobi

Sexual harassment and abuse is a serious problem for students at all levels of education. Students in elementary, middle, high school, and universities can become victims of sexual harassment and abuse. The issue of sexual harassment is much more common than what we hear in the news. This is simply because many victims of sexual harassment choose to remain silent due to feelings of shame or even fear of losing their reputation. Sexual harassment can take various forms, such as unwanted advances, abuse of power, and touching without consent, all of which can cause discomfort, fear, and confusion for the victim, to the point where it can affect their attendance and academic performance. Sexual harassment can also be verbal, such as making unwarranted comments about one’s body, making sexual jokes, and telling sexual stories. It can also be physical, such as touching, rubbing, grabbing, and sexual assault. Another form of sexual harassment is visual, such as showing or sending sexual images and videos to others or displaying inappropriate sexual behavior

Sexual harassment in work and educational environments is most likely carried out by individuals in positions of power, often by men. This can include teachers, school administrators, or managers of a company. In these cases, the perpetrator holds a powerful and dominant position over the victim, and can exert their power in various ways. This can include physical force, fear of punishment, giving good grades, turning a blind eye to mistakes, and many other forms of abuse. When the relationship is between an adult and a minor, the younger person is less emotionally equipped to handle the unreasonable behavior of the perpetrator. In other words, children are more vulnerable in these situations due to their lack of mental maturity compared to adults.

Sexual harassment and abuse in schools in Iran is also very common. In June of this year, it was reported that a school monitor in the district of Tehran 2 had sexually harassed and abused sixteen students by showing them pornographic films and forcing them to engage in sexual acts with each other. According to the report by Khabar Online, the incident of this school monitor’s assault on students had been hidden for months until the parents of one of the students noticed their child’s aggressive and nervous behavior and, upon seeking help from a teenage psychiatrist, discovered that their child had been a victim of abuse. The widespread dissemination of this incident by the parents of the students, along with the detention and subsequent confessions of the school monitor, once again brought the issue of sexual harassment and abuse to the forefront of Iranian society and raises the question of what is the appropriate method for dealing with sexual harassment in educational environments and what measures other countries have taken to address this issue.

Protective laws and the role of educational environment officials

It is very important for students to learn about the issue of sexual harassment and then the concept of “consent” as soon as possible during adolescence. This is because it is during this time that beliefs, behaviors, and ideas about sexual relationships are formed in individuals, and education can have the greatest impact on students during this time. Some basic education, such as respecting bodily privacy, should be taught during childhood. At the same time, schools and educational institutions should also take responsibility. In the United States, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits any discrimination based on gender in all public educational institutions in the country. This civil rights law also includes the prohibition of harassment, sexual harassment, and assault. According to a new supplementary law passed in 2000, all educational institutions must appoint someone responsible for enforcing the law to combat sexual harassment in educational environments. Unfortunately, in Iran and many other countries, students may not have a support center or an institution to report and address incidents of

Students must have a complete understanding of their rights and responsibilities. Awareness of issues such as: what does consent mean in sexual matters? What constitutes as sexual assault? What is unwanted sexual communication and harassment? And where to turn for help if experiencing sexual harassment or seeking more information about these questions. Many educational environments in Western countries require participation in workshops on sexual harassment and consent for all new students. While awareness is the first and essential step, in order to combat sexual harassment in schools and universities, educational authorities must actively implement programs to make these environments safe for everyone.

Confronting sexual harassment is everyone’s responsibility.

“Sexual assault and harassment is not just an issue for the individual who experiences violence, but also for those who witness violence. They have a moral and social responsibility. In order to transform individuals into part of the solution in combating sexual assault, various programs have been designed to encourage them to challenge and confront harmful behaviors and jokes. This is because challenging violent behaviors creates a safer and healthier environment among our peers. In this regard, the University of New Hampshire in America has developed…”

workshop

I designed (2) educational workshops for students in schools and universities, in which they are taught to not just be bystanders if their friends and classmates are subjected to sexual violence, but to intervene in an appropriate manner. This workshop focuses on the role of the perpetrator and the victim, rather than just the act of violence itself. With a responsibility-based approach, this workshop teaches witnesses what responsibilities they have, what behaviors are unacceptable and alarming, and when and how to take action using appropriate methods.

Another campaign called “It’s On Us” has been formed in this regard, which aims to raise awareness about sexual harassment among everyone, including students, parents, public figures, private companies, and local and national representatives, as solving this issue requires a national conversation. This campaign uses creative methods to promote the message of “If you see something, say something.” More than 500 universities have declared their support for this nationwide campaign. It focuses on four main areas of activity:

• Non-consensual sexual relationship is considered sexual harassment by both parties.

• Situations in which the risk of sexual harassment and abuse is high are considered.

• It examines situations where consent is not possible. For example, if one party is unable to give consent due to excessive alcohol or drug consumption, sexual relations with them are considered sexual abuse and assault.

• It emphasizes the creation of a safe environment for everyone and supporting victims of sexual harassment.

Despite the abundance of information and awareness campaigns about protecting individuals’ privacy, today teenagers and children are exposed to invisible harassment from society. Sometimes parents insist that their children, despite their inner desires, hug or kiss family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Parents should teach their children to set boundaries and limits for physical contact during questioning or in happy situations. Additionally, some fathers constantly joke with their young daughters, saying “I’ll beat up any boy who looks at my daughter.” These types of jokes create the idea in the minds of girls and boys that all boys are potential predators and girls are always in need of constant protection. Parents play a crucial role in properly educating their children about future relationships.

Sex education includes teaching a wide range of aspects of human sexual behavior, including healthy sexual relationships, health issues, rights and responsibilities, and issues related to “consent”. The process of preventing sexual abuse and harassment through sex education should start at a young age and actively continue throughout different stages of life. Creating supportive laws along with awareness campaigns and education can have a positive impact on reducing inappropriate sexual behaviors on a global level.

Notes:

1. ما مراجعه کنید

   For more information, please visit us at R.K.

   Website

   Public schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, USA

2. For more information about this workshop, refer to the R.K.

   Website

   Culture of Respect