Does sexual harassment have to include sex?

[whttevrr]

Is it imperative that the perpetrator have the intention of carnal knowledge?

I've noticed a few arguments about the six year old boy who repeatedly kissed a six year old girl, even after he was told not to. The premise is that the boy does not know what sex is, so how can he be sexually harassing anyone?

Is that a false premise, or a straw man?

Since when has ignorance excused behavior? If I am speeding down a street and I do not 'see' the posted speed limit... am I excused from the infraction? Is it illegal for a six year old child to drive? If the child is witnessed to be driving, will he be allowed to continue on his way? No? And, he probably won't be going to jail either, will he? He may not know how to drive... but he most certainly was driving in this particular example. The only real question is how to get him safely out of the car.

The point is...

I may not remember precisely what I was doing and thinking at six. But I knew what 'no' meant. No is seldom ambiguous. It is a word we hear almost from birth. By the time a child learns to actually speak, they have a pretty good idea what 'no' means.

The sexualization of the incident does not necessarily have to be of a carnal nature to be sexually biased. Certainly at six we all know the difference between boys and girls. We know that there is something different between the sexes. Even if we don't know exactly what those differences are, we certainly know that we are either boy or girl. And, we can readily recognize those differences in others.

In the legal definition of sexual harassment there is of course 'quid pro quo'. However, that is not the only form of sexual harassment that has been defined. There can be absolutely no expectation of carnal knowledge and still be a case for sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace can be as simplistic as unwanted touching. If you continuously try to hug a coworker and they say no, but you persist; you are guilty of sexual harassment and can open yourself and the company you work for to legal liability.

So again, how is it not sexual harassment if a boy continuously kisses a girl who says no. No means no. Unwanted touching is defined as sexual harassment. If you are told to stop by the person and those in authority and you do not, you are guilty of sexual harassment.

After reading through the threads here and looking at how the situation has been described in reportage, it seems pretty obvious that the act is indeed a prima facie case of sexual harassment. It really does not matter what the kid understands, his actions speak for him. The only real question is what steps does a society take to teach a six year old that what he is doing is inappropriate. Obviously, because of the child's age, this is not a felony criminal assault. And no one is saying it was described as such except maybe a misleading fox headline.

So I'm wondering... why say it can't be sexual harassment? Is it not one of the actual definitions of sexual harassment? It is obviously not felony sexual assault, but it most certainly harassment. And by it's very nature, carnal intent or not, it is also sexual harassment.

Why is that so hard to understand?

[el_bryanto]

1. What crime should he be charged with in your opinion? nt

[whttevrr]

2. He is six, and he was not charged with a crime.

Don't be silly.

[Nine]

74. People just won't familiarize themselves with the facts.

I have repeatedly seen untrue claims that the school had this boy charged with a crime. Never happened. I've also seen it suggested that the school should have kept this "in house." It WAS "in house." No one would have ever known about this if the mother hadn't gone crying to the media.

[pnwmom]

62. No crime. It should be a school matter.

But it's not too early to start explaining to kids that unwelcome attentions like that are wrong and that they're against school rules.

[idwiyo]

3. Yes, it's sexual harassment. The childs needs it explained to him properly how inapropriate his

behaviour is. The mother of said child should be fined for failure to discipline her son.

[whttevrr]

5. I was thinking more of a letter of apology, or something...

There does not seem to be consensus in whether or not her child even did anything wrong. Imagine the difficulty in trying to charge the mom with something that would include a fine.

[idwiyo]

9. This is not a first offence for this child & and there already was one suspention prior to this.

If the child still doesn't understand that his behaviour is wrong, it's now parents fault. Taking into account his mother's behaviour and outright lies (they are GF & BF), his mother clearly doesn't believe her child is doing anything wrong. She is responsible for her child, and her failure to stop harassment should be punished.

[upaloopa]

51. If you have to explain to a kid what sexual harassment is then

tell him that he is guilty of it he couldn't have know he was sexually harassing someone.
He was harnessing someone but he is not guilty of something he doesn't comprehend.

[idwiyo]

54. He is guilty of sexual harassment, regardless of what he does or doesn't comprehend.

This is not the first incident, or even second. He did not physically assault that girl like hitting her, pulling her hair, etc. He very deliberately kept kissing her and preventing her from playing with other children. He was told to stop it and refused to do it. 6 yo is perfectly mature enough to understand very simple concepts like "No", "Stop doing it", "This girl does not want to be kissed", "You can only kiss someone if they agree to it". It's up to appropriate child behaviour specialists how to deal with it.

The girl is the victim in this situation and she must be provided with safe and secure environment at school. Period. She must be sure that it's not going to happen again. If it can only be done by removing that boy from school, than it should be done. If they can provide someone to supervise him at all times, great, if not, than he should be removed.

When it comes to his mother, she is responsible for her failure to discipline her child, that's why I suggested something like a stiff fine. Her behaviour indicates she seriously lucks in parenting department. I seriously believe that it's time when appropriate child-protection authorities should be involved.

[upaloopa]

60. No he doesn't know what it is

Lets put each other on ignore ok?

[idwiyo]

68. Sorry, I don't use Ignore.

[Nine]

75. Kids commit transgressions all the time that they don't fully understand.

A kid playing with matches may not realize he is doing anything wrong. That's why you take the matches away, explain that matches are dangerous for children and are not allowed to be played with, and try to put the matches in a place less accessible to the child.

A kid who says, "That lady sure is fat!" may not be intending to be cruel. But the recipient of that remark is still likely to be hurt and embarrassed. Good parents explain what's wrong about making comments like that.

If another child causes my child distress at school, receives multiple warnings that the behavior is wrong, and continues to do the behavior, I would want that child punished, preferably in a way that takes him/her away from my child. The first time could have been childish innocence. The 10th or 20th time is just misbehavior. Any parent who says they would not want the exact same protection for their own child is full of crap.

[idwiyo]

95. Thank you. I am not a parent, so you said it better than I could.

[Decaffeinated]

93. Failure to parent within approved government guidelines...

Can't see any way that could turn evil as hell...

[idwiyo]

94. Failure to teach a child basics like "You must not kiss or touch another person without permission"

should be punished.

If this was an adult, he would be charged. As this is a child, his parents must be held responsible for what his actions.
In this case parents (mother at least) knew there was a problem and failed to stop it. Don't see why they should be given a pass.

As it stands, that little girl just learnt that she can never be safe. Her abuser literally gets a free pass to keep doing what he was doing. His parents left free to keep raising future rapist.

Makes me sick reading post after post lowing how unfair all this is to the boy, with fuck all concern expressed toward that little girl.

[wolfgirl]

4. As an EEO Specialist...

the definition of sexual harassment in the workplace generally is as follows:

"Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: (1) submission to or rejection of such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of one’s employment; (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by a person is used as a basis for career or employment decisions affecting that person; or (3) such conduct interferes with an individual’s performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment."

Outside the workplace, the behavior could be considered harassment (sexual or non-sexual) when it involves unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Regarding this particular incident with the children, the ADULTS (parents & teachers) should be aware of the behaviors of their children and take actions as needed to assure no one is being subjected to any unwanted behaviors - be it bullying, inappropriate touching/kissing, inappropriate verbal behaviors as well.

Hope this is helpful!

[whttevrr]

7. As a supervisor...

If an employee comes to me with a complaint about a coworker who is making unwanted physical contact I am obligated to take corrective action and report this behavior to my management team. Sexual harassment also includes non quid pro quo activities. Lurid behavior, pornography, unwanted physical contact or comments, and even a person overhearing coworkers talking in an inappropriate manner can open up legal liability for sexual harassment.

[Major Nikon]

70. There is 'quid pro quo' and 'hostile work environment'

Both are sexual harassment. The latter generally involves pervasive and ongoing activity (although not necessarily). However, any smart manager/supervisor should be taking action before it becomes repetitive and crosses that legal hurdle. The best policy is to be proactive rather than reactive.

[Vashta Nerada]

6. Wow. Have I walked into the Twilight Zone?

We're talking about a freaking six year old. He has no concept of sexual harassment. I'm sure he has no idea what he has done wrong.

And people here are vilifying him?

[whttevrr]

10. Who is vilifying who?

Please be specific in your recriminations. Please quote where I am vilifying anyone.

[Vashta Nerada]

12. Not you.

In other threads about the subject.

[whttevrr]

16. Then why post that here?

[LanternWaste]

11. Confusing observations of behavior with vilification is convenient for the sub-literate.

Confusing observations of behavior with vilification is convenient for the sub-literate to advertise their biases... not that you would ever allege to do such a thing.




Nor do six year olds ever engage in violence, have any concept of it, or have any idea of right and wrong.

[Vashta Nerada]

14. So what would be the appropriate crime for this child?

Should he register as a sex offender?

[whttevrr]

17. He is not criminally responsible for his actions at six.

But he is morally responsible to learn how to respect the rights of others.

[Vashta Nerada]

18. So what's the point of this thread?

[whttevrr]

20. General Discussion of current topics?

Besides wanting to stir strife, why are you here?

[Dorian Gray]

91. Isn't school a place

where children should learn proper social behavior? All I see is people discussing the issue in a social way and suggesting that his behavior is anti-social and that his mother seems to be contributing to the problem. I don't see anybody advocating for actual legal punishment or being labeled as a sexual harasser at all.

[pipi_k]

40. And if he doesn't...

learn to respect the rights/boundaries of others, it may not be that he refuses to.

It might be that he can't, for some reason.

Could be that he just cannot fathom the boundary between himself and others, and might require years of therapy of some sort in order to "get it".

It's possible he could be on the opposite end of the spectrum from myself. My boundaries are a little too WELL developed...to the point where I don't like being touched or touching others. Even at a very young age, as I recall...like five.

[Revanchist]

37. He should have an idea

This is not the first time he was told not to do it. How many times should he be allowed to repeat the same action before there are consequences?

What if it wasn't kissing but it was biting, do you think he should be allowed to continue that behavior or should he be suspended after being told repeated times that what he is doing in not appropriate?

Should we just tell the little girl to suck it up because "boys will be boys"?

I doesn't have to explained to him as sexual harassment but it needs to be explained to him that he is not allowed to go around kissing or touching someone who does not what to be kissed or touched.

[pipi_k]

42. So if it were biting...

My youngest sister's daughter bit all the time.

She bit my mom one time, and mom bit back.

Unfortunately, my niece wasn't acting out because she was a brat. After lots of neurological testing, the doctors found something wrong in her brain (seizures of some sort) and treated her with meds.

She stopped biting.

So when repeated "no" doesn't work, maybe it's time to think of other causes besides shitty parenting or that the kid is just the spawn of Satan...

[gollygee]

47. Well that kind of biting is usually associated with toddlers, not 6-year-olds

A child who repeatedly bit another child at the age of 6 would get into a lot of trouble at school.

[Crunchy Frog]

86. He should probably be in therapy

or receiving some kind of special services to help with his socialization issues.

I doubt that punishing him or suspending him from school will accomplish anything constructive.

[idwiyo]

55. 6yo doesn't understand simple concepts like "You can only kiss someone if they agree to it"?

"Don't do it again" - which he was told repeatedly? "What you are doing is bad"?

Are you for real?

This child kept kissing and restraining this girl from playing with other children. I an perfectly sure he well understands it's not the right thing to do.

I am much more concerned with the safety and well being of the girl at this point. She is the victim. If the only way to keep her feeling safe and secure is to remove that boy from school, than it should be done.

[Vashta Nerada]

57. I really don't care what you people think about this topic anymore.

Really.

I've hidden this thread and I still get annoying yellow new replies to it.

[idwiyo]

58. You can delete your coment, if you want people stop responding to it. Otherwise, tough luck.

[Sheldon Cooper]

59. nt

[Nine]

76. That must be really annoying.

Almost as annoying as having another person repeatedly kiss you after it has been made clear again and again that such actions are unwanted.

[historylovr]

81. +1

[Dorian Gray]

92. Ha

Perfect

[Egalitarian Thug]

67. More like rationalizing a perceived right to intervene into any and every

aspect of other people's lives and demand submission and conformity to what ever strikes them as good or moral at the moment.

[Dorian Gray]

90. I don't think that it was sexual harassment

but I do think that he was harassing her. And that he was reprimanded for it and continued the behavior suggests that, perhaps, an actual punishment is in order. And separating him from the little girl who does not want his attention, affection or acts is probably a good idea, as well.

She shouldn't have to suffer through unwanted attention.

[Xithras]

8. Sexual harassment must include sexual intent.

If there is no sexual intent, it's not sexual harassment. It's just plain, old fashioned harassment. Nobody was saying that a 6 year old should be allowed to touch people with impunity, but you can't attach adult concepts to a childs actions.

The dictionary definition of sexual harassment: "Unsolicited verbal or physical behaviour of a sexual nature."

If kisses on the cheek, without sexual intent, can be considered "behavior of a sexual nature", then half of Europe engages in incest every single day.

The kid is six, he had no sexual intent. He DID intend to harass the girls, but to call is sexual harassment is to attach intent without any evidence of its existence. It's "projecting" of the worst sort.

[idwiyo]

13. Kiss on the chick WITHOUT concent is indeed a sexual harassement.

That child clearly doesn't understand where the boundary is when it comes to behaviour like this. I blame his mother for it.

[Crunchy Frog]

87. Perhaps he has some cognitive issues

that keep him from understanding the concept of boundaries. Maybe it's not anyone's fault, and he simply has some inborn limitations.

And why just mom? Why not Dad as well?

[whttevrr]

15. A key part of the definition is the use of the word unwelcome.

If a girl of any age does not want to be kissed it is her right to say no.

Anyone who violates that right is guilty of sexual harassment.

[Xithras]

22. Anyone has the right to say no to ANY sort of physical contact.

If someone makes physical contact with you anyway, it's harassment or assault. If they do it with sexual intent, then it's sexual harassment or sexual assault.

But there has to be a sexual component to the contact in order for it to be considered "sexual harassment". A kiss on the cheek is not an inherently sexual act (unless you're a religious fundamentalist or lived in Elizabethan England), so without any indication that it was intended to provoke a sexual response, provide sexual gratification, or promote some other sexual intent, then it's simply "plain old" harassment or assault.

[whttevrr]

26. What legal precedent do you reference to make that assumption?

Most legal reference say that it is not the intent of the accused but the consent of the person who feels harassed. I think you should look it up and come back with something better than just repeating what you said earlier. It is not about intent. it is about consent. If it is unwelcome it does not matter what the harassers intent is.

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/pdf/whatissh.pdf

Unwelcome Behavior is the critical word.

Sexual harassment includes many things...
•Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault.
•Unwanted pressure for sexual favors.
•Unwanted deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, or pinching.
•Unwanted sexual looks or gestures.
•Unwanted letters, telephone calls, or materials of a sexual nature.
•Unwanted pressure for dates.
•Unwanted sexual teasing, jokes, remarks, or questions.
•Referring to an adult as a girl, hunk, doll, babe, or honey.
•Whistling at someone.
•Cat calls.
•Sexual comments.
•Turning work discussions to sexual topics.
•Sexual innuendos or stories.
•Asking about sexual fantasies, preferences, or history.
•Personal questions about social or sexual life.
•Sexual comments about a person's clothing, anatomy, or looks.
•Kissing sounds, howling, and smacking lips.
•Telling lies or spreading rumors about a person's personal sex life.
•Neck massage.
•Touching an employee's clothing, hair, or body.
•Giving personal gifts.
•Hanging around a person.
•Hugging, kissing, patting, or stroking.
•Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person.
•Standing close or brushing up against a person.
•Looking a person up and down (elevator eyes).
•Staring at someone.
•Sexually suggestive signals.
•Facial expressions, winking, throwing kisses, or licking lips.
•Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements

[Yavin4]

30. As a man, I've had a good number of those things happen to me on the job.

Who do I sue?

[whttevrr]

33. That depends...

Was it unwelcomed?

[Yavin4]

36. Yes.

It's unwelcomed. I've had women look me up and down all of the time.

[Sheldon Cooper]

46. So, when do you report to HR to make your complaint?

[Sheldon Cooper]

35. Start with the human resource office for your company.

If no satisfaction at that level, contact the EEOC. It's really quite simple. Or, perhaps you weren't actually serious and just wanted to make some sort of point? In any case, you now have your answer so you needn't pretend anymore.

[Xithras]

38. How about the laws in all 50 states?

Under your definition, ANY unwanted physical contact could be construed as sexual harassment or sexual assault. The actual laws, on the other hand, require that the contact be for the purpose of sexual gratification, harm, or of a "sexual nature". A six year old isn't going to have any concept of sexual desire, and any actions will therefore lack the "sexual" component needed to qualify as any sort of sex crime in any state in America.

And thank goodness for that.

[whttevrr]

39. Can you post a link?

Can you show me one state that says sexual harassment is dependent on intent and NOT on the principle of unwelcomed actions?

I got a few minutes...

With all 50 states proclaiming what you are arguing, it should not be difficult for you to prove your point with a link to some legal document in one of the 50 states, right?

[sibelian]

45. Can you make ANY case that makes ANY sense beyond a series of assertions?

Does your case consist of anything other than a kind of imaginary see-through plastic bowl labelled "sexual" turned upside down on a table being slid around and fitted over a scattered pile of phenomena that you feel empowered to slide over and include anything that you like so long as there's some tenuous relation to phenomenon based on gender with the sole purpose of making it look like males are incapable of innocence?

[99Forever]

73. Geesus cripes.

There's something fucking wrong with you. The above "list" is intended FOR ADULTS. What part of that is it that you don't understand?

Seriously, our society doesn't charge CHILDREN with ADULT CRIMES, period, yet here you are blathering on and on and on that a 6 YEAR OLD be held to the same standards as ADULTS.

Just plain fucking contemptible.

[99Forever]

80. Something is definately wrong with you.

I detest militant horseshit dressed up as "concern."


I see right thru your crap and see the 'I hate anything with a penis' agenda that is you.

[geek tragedy]

28. Try kissing a coworker on the cheek despite

her telling you to stop and use that defense against sexual harassment charge that will follow.

[pipi_k]

44. And there you go...

sexual intent. Which often has more to do with the filthy mind of the observer.

I can think of quite a few times where, as a teenager, I was yelled at and insulted for doing something which, to me, had no sexual overtones or intent whatsoever, but which the observer's dirty filthy mind judged to be so.


In fact, there was a thread bouncing around the other day slamming a jewelry store for its slogan, "Every kiss begins with Kay" in which some people felt that buying overpriced jewelry was akin to paying for sex...oooh...he bought her a diamond...he's gonna get LAID tonight!!!

Really?

Since when does a kiss...which is where that slogan begins and ends...automatically mean sex and virtual prostitution?

It's a kiss, FGS!!!

I dunno. Maybe I'm just way too naive, even at the age of 61.

Anyway, it sort of disturbs me to see the numbers of people who equate the (repeated) kisses of a six year old child as something close to sexual harassment.

[sibelian]

48. It's utterly disgusting. Not even the innocence of a six year old child is to remain unpolluted.

I feel sick. I've never seen so much twisted, hideous nonsense.

I saw someone on another thread describe the incident as evidence of "rape culture".

[Comrade Grumpy]

61. I'm glad I'm getting old. This country is getting too freaking uptight for my taste.

And the self-righteousness is so thick you could cut it with a knife.

[xulamaude]

77. "Which often has more to do with the filthy mind of the observer."

Just because you did things you thought were fine doesn't mean that if was fine.

"Filthy minds" not withstanding.

[Major Nikon]

71. Your interpretation isn't correct

The behavior doesn't even have to be directed at the person who takes offense to it.

Your own example contradicts yourself. The key word is "unsolicited". My wife used to work in the same building as me and I used to freak people out who didn't know us by saying I was going to sexually harrass her (and would frequently). The key was it wasn't unwanted so it wasn't illegal.

Here are the prima facie elements required for sexual harrassment (hostile work environment) to cross the hurdle of illegality:
1.He or she suffered intentional, unwanted discrimination because of his or her sex.
2.The harassment was severe or pervasive.
3.The harassment negatively affected the terms, conditions or privileges of his or her work environment.
4.The harassment would detrimentally effect a reasonable person of the same sex.
5.Management knew about the harassment, or should have known, and did nothing to stop it.

Notice that sexual intent on behalf of the perpetrator never appears.

Furthermore, school children aren't employees, so we're not talking about illegal behavior in the first place. Kids should be taught that unwanted sexual advances are wrong. It doesn't matter if they don't fully understand the sexual implications. We teach kids not to do all sorts of things they may not fully understand why it's wrong. That's where adult responsibilities toward children come in.

[quinnox]

19. I'm just wondering when looking at a woman will be considered

a possible sex harassment case, I can see it already. "Looking at a woman with lust in your eye, that's a crime, book him!"

[whttevrr]

21. Really?

That's what you're going to go with?

[quinnox]

24. Ok, take the kid to a foster home, or reform school

for this unforgivable crime, this boy showed a liking for a girl. We can't have that!

[whttevrr]

27. Nnooo...

The kid repeatedly invalidated the girls right to say no. No one here is proposing he be sent away. He needs to be educated on what is appropriate and what is inappropriate.

I never mentioned criminal prosecution or sending him away. I just wrote that it was sexual harassment. No means no. And some people still don't get it.

If a child does something criminal, they typically are not charged with a crime. Even in this case the child was not charged with a crime. He was suspended and it was noted why he was suspended.

So let me ask you: At what point is it ok for the little girl to say no and have that respected?

[sibelian]

50. Well, you seem to think kids touching each other is sexy.

So I don't really know that you're in much of a position to strike attitudes.

[Major Nikon]

72. It already is and has been for many years

There's plenty of case law. Here is one:

Specifically, the EEOC alleged that some of the women were subjected to touching, groping, breast grabbing, leering, and derogatory comments. EEOC also alleged that when a longtime employee tried to complain about the harassment, she and her entire crew were terminated and not hired back. The EEOC further alleged that women were excluded from certain jobs at the vineyard.

http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/6-15-05.cfm

http://www.google.com/search?q=hostile+work+environment+leering

[Johonny]

23. Children are not sexually active:Why is that so hard to understand?

Though they mimic adult behavior they sure don't behave in a sexual manner as adults. Thus no one accepts a pedophiles excuse that the kids were asking for it. Nor does society allow children to give consent to have sex. Why, because children do not understand sexual behavior nor do physically or emotionally do they feel and behave as adults. I know people try to project adult sexual behavior and emotions on children but that does not mean it has any form of reality. This doesn't mean the child was not behaving in a inappropriate manner or that the child should not be punished like any other child disrupting a classroom, but to label a 6 year old as a sexual harasser... seems more a you problem then a them problem. I think the vast majority of people fully accept children do not behave as adults. Indeed our whole legal code basically is written in a manner that incorporates this concept.

[whttevrr]

31. I don't know about that explanation.

I did not know what sex was as a child. But I understood that no means no. I even had girlfriends in grade school. It was silly and I had absolutely no clue what it was about. But I knew I liked girls. I gave one girl this little plastic duck ring. It was beautiful. And it broke my tiny little heart when she didn't want me or my ring any more. But you know what? I knew that she said no.

Sexual harassment is not about mine or your intent, it is about unwelcomed behavior.

It is wrong to touch or kiss a girl without her consent. I did not think of it as consent as a kid, but I knew what it was in an instinctual way. It is what it is.

Either you see it or you don't. Too bad too many men don't see it.

[DevonRex]

43. Why does the age of the BOY get to determine how the GIRL

feels? SHE was made to feel as uncomfortable with his attentions as she would have been with the "creepy uncle's" attentions. And she has no agenda other than wanting it to stop when she says STOP.

[historylovr]

82. That is the question, isn't it.

Why should she have to put up with his overtures if she doesn't want them? Period. The age doesn't matter. Nor, apparently, do the girl's feelings.

[magical thyme]

25. I think just plain harassment is appropriate, along with violating their "unwanted touch"rule

They can leave the sex out of the harassment from his school record.

Bullying also seems appropriate, as in the past he and another boy had prevented the girl from playing with her other classmates.

And he also had been cited in the past for roughhousing with other kids.

The kid, and especially his parents, need serious counseling. He needs to learn to respect other people's boundaries.

[Whiskeytide]

29. The problem as I see it...

... is that we're missing the point. Regardless of whether you label this sexual harassment, just harassment, battery or whatever, the effect on the little girl involved is getting lost in the media shuffle.

It appears from more recent reports that the teacher and the school admin did everything they reasonably could before resorting to re-portable discipline and a suspension. One report said he'd been suspended before for similar actions. The boy failed to correct his behavior, and the parents of the little boy failed to take care of it as well.

He appears uncontrollably obsessed with the girl. He's been told to stop, he's been disciplined - and yet he continues the behavior. It doesn't really matter what was in the mind of the little boy at that point. If his actions are freaking the little girl out (and how could they not be doing so?), something has to be done to STOP the behavior. Period.

At some point, the admin has to say "Enough - We're not going to let this kid keep damaging this little girl's psyche or self image - however you want to put it - because they're only six and don't know what sex really is".

[whttevrr]

34. Exactly...

It really does not matter what the little boys intent is. It is about the little girl saying 'no' and being heard.

No means no.

[historylovr]

52. Thank you!

[idwiyo]

56. You are right. It's definitely looks like noone gives a shit about the girl.

Barely anyone acknowledges that this is repeated and very deliberate behaviour on his part.
Barely anyone actually said that this girl must be provided with safe and secure environment, regardless what it takes at this point.

[yellowcanine]

32. Any kind of touch can be sexual harassment; as can suggestive language, unwanted comments about a

person's appearance, pornographic pictures on a computer where coworkers can see them, etc. The key questions are: are the actions unwelcome or not; is a coworker getting unfair advantage because of a personal relationship with a supervisor; and do the actions in question create a hostile work environment? And in the case of actual touch, depending on what it is, it may be sexual assault, which much more serious than sexual harassment and may be grounds for immediate dismissal/prosecution.

[Rex]

41. Yes, otherwise it is just harassment or am I missing something about the wording.

nt.

[JoePhilly]

49. We were in 2nd grade, and her name was Christie.

She'd sneak up and kiss me, and I'd run away.

If I was sitting, she'd grab me from behind and then start kissing the side of my face, over and over.

Even when I said stop. She wouldn't stop.

Even when the teacher told her to stop, she would not.

She'd chase me around the coat room.

It was embarrassing.

She moved away between 2nd and 3rd grade.

And I missed her.

Sexual Harassment, or fond memory?

[Warpy]

53. There are better ways to handle this than blowing a fit and suspending a six year old

Standing in a corner during recess is one. Losing TV and video games at home is another.

The kid is only doing it because it gets him attention. When that attention has an unacceptable cost, he'll stop.

[Nine]

84. Multiple chances were given. When there is repeated misbehavior, consequences must become stronger.

At-home consequences were not an option in this case because the parent refused to cooperate. Standing in a corner is no longer done in schools; it is considered a shaming-type punishment. If you simply meant missing recess, you are talking about a suspension, which is exactly the type of consequence that was used. The only difference is that it was one-day (or two-day?), out-of-school suspension instead of a one-hour, in-school suspension. If you don't like to think of this boy's behavior as sexual harassment, then don't. Think of it as insubordination - defying the teacher's instructions over and over and over again. Think of it as bullying - touching another student over and over again in a manner the other student has made clear she doesn't like. Do you think a brief suspension is too harsh for those rule violations as well? Aren't these consequences simply providing the "unacceptable cost" you suggest will make the boy stop his misbehavior?

[Glassunion]

63. No. You're confusing the term.

Is it imperative that the perpetrator have the intention of carnal knowledge?

Sexual harassment can be between differing, or same sex individuals, along with being the same or different orientation.

If a heterosexual man continually sends inappropriate pictures to another heterosexual man, this can be sexual harassment.

Something like hanging a poster in a locker room can be sexual harassment.

The list goes on and on.

[Agschmid]

65. Actually agree with you mostly.

[In_The_Wind]

69. So do I.

Mostly.

[sendero]

66. There has to at least be..

... the potential for sex. There was not in this case.

[whttevrr]

79. The intentions of the principal actor are immaterial.

Sexual harassment is about the effect the activities have on the person who objects.

Two guys tell the same joke to each other every morning. A man overhears it and objects. The complaint is made and the behavior continues. The guy telling the joke has absolutely no intention of sex with either man. The guy telling the joke says to the man who complained: "Awww, did I hurt your Vagina?"

That is sexual harassment.

[Comrade Grumpy]

83. Oh, good Lord. The guy who complained is lucky he didn't die when somebody blew e-cig vapor on him.

[sendero]

89. Completely..

.... non-sequitur "analogy". The kids kiss HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SEX, PERIOD.

Twist yourself into pretzels trying to make it so, but it cannot be done.

[eridani]

96. So? It had to do with repeated unwanted violation of the girl's physical space.

Teaching kids that this is unacceptable used to be called just plain old socialization.

[nolabear]

85. I went to a lot of trouble to explain why. Clearly you don't believe it. So why ask?

Nothing anyone can say will change your mind, so what, exactly, are you looking for?

[BainsBane]

88. No, because if it does, it's rape

Harassment is a civil rather than a criminal concept. Harassment is typically a hostile work environment or circumstances that make a person or a group uncomfortable based on gender or sexuality,

Assault and rape are criminal acts that involve forcible sexual contact on another person.

I'm not going to get into whether sexual harassment is the right term to describe a six year old's behavior. I myself would call it a problem with respecting personal boundaries. In general, however, sexual harassment does NOT involve sex. If it did, that would be sexual assault or rape.