Sexual Harassment

You are Not Alone

Sexual harassment can mean someone grabbing or touching you, pulling on your clothes, or just making sexual comments, either to you or to other people about you, that make you feel uncomfortable.  Sexual harassment can make you feel awkward, isolated, or like you don't have any power. 

Remember that you are NOT isolated and you DO have power.  As many as 90% of high school girls from all different backgrounds report experiencing at least some sexual harassment at school.  If someone is sexually harassing you, the law is on your side.

Being pregnant can make you more vulnerable to sexual harassment at school.  Some people might think your pregnancy gives them an excuse to talk about your sexuality or sexual history.  If former boyfriends or the baby's father go to school with you, they might have strong emotional reactions to your pregnancy, which puts you at an increased risk for dating violence.  Remember that you NEVER deserve to be harassed, no matter what you choose to do about your pregnancy.

Your School is Supposed to Help You

Sexual Harassment

Federal law says that if you school knows you are being sexually harassed and doesn't do anything to stop it, it could be held financially liable.  Your school or school district should have a policy against sexual harassment. 

Read Talking to Your School, then find a teacher, counselor, or other adult you trust at your school and talk to them about what is happening and what they can help you do about it.

Dating Violence

Very often, when two people who go to the same school have a relationship with dating violence, that relationship spills over into the school day and involves one person sexually harassing the other while they are at school.

If you have a protective order against anyone (even if the person doesn't also go to your school), make a copy and give it to your school.  They are legally required to help you enforce it, and giving them a copy of the order in advance makes it more likely that school officials will take your side and take strong action immediately if the person you have the order against aproaches, threatens or attacks you while you are at school.

Even if you do not have a protective order, and even if you do not want to get the courts involved, Texas law says that if someone who goes to your school has been in a dating violence relaitonship with you, your school must work with you to come up with a plan that keeps you safe.  Usually, this involves adjusting class schedules and making rules about which hallways and common areas the person who harrased you is allowed to use.  The goal of these plans is to make sure that you never have to see him during the school day, on the way to and from school or at school-sponsored events, but to also allow him to continue his educaiton.

To Get Help

If your school isn't responding the way it should to harassment because of your pregnancy, call the Jane's Due Process legal hotline at 1-866-999-5236.

If you want help with a protective order or an in-school stay-away plan, call the National Teen Dating Violence Helpline at 1-866-331-9474 or the Texas Advocacy Project at 1-800-374-HOPE.