Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyer Blog

A recent study by the American Association of University Women found that 48 percent of high school and middle school students surveyed believe they have been sexually harassed at least once, typically by their peers, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Allegations of sexual harassment in Los Angeles, regardless of the setting, is inappropriate. Sexual harassment comes in many forms and from many people. It is as simple as someone sending an e-mail that has sexual overtones and makes someone uncomfortable. It can be as extreme as someone asking for sexual favors in order to get or keep a job.

Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyers have seen everything in between. In many cases, people who commit these unlawful acts are in a position of power and use that power to ensure they don't get caught.

In office or business settings, this typically can happen when there is a culture that allows for these things to go on. If no one else is reporting it, a person may feel he or she would be a "tattletale" if they step up and fight back. Or, given our difficult economic climate, a person could feel nervous that he or she would be retaliated against if they spoke up.

While this harassment shouldn't be going on at work, it certainly shouldn't be happening to our children. But it is, a new survey found. Of the respondents, 48 percent said they have been sexually harassed in school -- middle and high school. That means that children around 12 to 18 feel that they have been sexually harassed.

Girls are more likely to be sexually harassed -- "unwelcome sexual behavior that takes place in person or electronically" -- in the survey than boys. About 56 percent of girls said they were sexually harassed at least once in the last school year. Thirty percent said the harassment came electronically, while 44 percent said it happened in person. The electronic harassment could have come via text message, Facebook or email.

The survey asked 1,965 students in both private and public schools. Girls, whose bodies were more developed than their peers', were more likely to be harassed. Boys who are overweight or "not very masculine" were more likely to be opened up to harassment.

About 13 percent of girls said they were touched in an unwelcome sexual way, while the majority -- 33 percent -- said they were the target of unwelcome sexual comments or jokes. Another 18 percent said they were called gay or lesbian in a negative way.

The problem here is that these remarks can have a long-term effect on the students. Eighty seven percent of respondents said the harassment had detrimental effects on them. About 33 percent said they didn't want to attend school after and some had difficulty sleeping or studying.

This happens to adults, too. Many victims of sexual harassment don't want to go to work where they feel they are opened up to sexual advances. This can cause depression or other mental issues. Sexual harassment in Los Angeles is serious and can have long-term consequences. Discuss your case with a lawyer today.