As cases such as Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial continue to appear on the news, sexual assault and sexual harassment are being recognized by the public and media as serious issues. 

The #MeToo and Time’s Up movements sparked a fire of advocacy and awareness in the public as workplace and street harassment are being addressed for, in some cases, the first time. 

The importance of discussing them with youth is also stressed in schools through state-approved educational packets, usually presented in classes such as Health Science, which DHS requires all freshmen to take. 

However, solutions to such problems usually aren’t as simple as starting a conversation. 

Despite recent efforts and awareness, people everywhere — specifically young adults — are still facing these issues.

Repetition is key when having conversations about sexual harassment in schools, according to freshman Emma Tiffany.

“We should have more assemblies or spend more time talking about the issue,” Tiffany said. “It’s not talked about as much as it should be, in comparison to say, vaping.”

Of 114 DHS students recently surveyed, 82.5% said they have experienced at least one form of sexual harassment. 

“It made me feel depressed,” freshman Makenzie Sarabia said. “I feel kind of pathetic for not defending myself before, but I do (defend myself) now.”

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), sexual harassment is a “broad term” which includes “many types of unwelcome verbal and physical sexual attention.”

Sexual harassment can come in many forms including crude jokes, inappropriate suggestions, catcalling, unwanted messages and explicit photos. 

Tiffany is a cheerleader who is frequently catcalled while in uniform and says it is something that “shouldn’t be an issue,” but is, because “it’s something people think they can just get away with.”

Tiffany added: “It’s not physically touching someone, it’s just verbal, so most of the time you can’t really prove it.”

Though a few words may seem harmless, even the lowest sexual harassment offence has varying short and long-term effects, ranging from anger, shame and loss of control to PTSD, anxiety and substance abuse in more serious cases. (RAINN.org)

“While it was happening, I didn’t understand, but now looking back on it, it makes me kind of angry,” senior Shaylee Yeager said. 

At her previous school, Yeager had been harassed by a classmate for around a year and said she still struggles with PTSD and has yet to find the best way to cope. 

Neither Sarabia, Tiffany nor Yeager reported the harassment.

That decision is not uncommon.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network lists reasons teenagers usually don’t report sexual assault or harassment as shame, fear of not being believed, not wanting to involve authority, and fear that nothing will be done.

“I didn’t want to ruin his chance at a scholarship,” Yeager said. 

Feeling a sense of responsibility to protect an offender is not uncommon, either, Student Resource Officer Amanda Stitt said.

“You are not responsible for other people’s actions,” Stitt said. “They are the ones who did something inappropriate, and they have to suffer the consequences.”

Though it’s difficult, reporting harassers is often an important step to stop the spread of further, potentially more escalated harassment to other victims.

“If they’re harassing one person, they’re probably harassing another,” Stitt said. “If you stay quiet, you don’t know if somebody else is receiving the same treatment or there is something worse going on.”

“… You may not see it as a big deal, but the next person might.”

Sophomore Surarrie Hill, who says she has experienced and reported sexual harassment many times, offers empowering advice to victims like herself.

“I know it’s really hard and you think no one will believe you, but when you get the courage to tell someone, it makes things so much better,” Hill said. 

The best way to combat a problem is to take action. Victims are encouraged to report their harassment and bystanders are encouraged to engage in bystander intervention, using the acronym C.A.R.E. (RAINN.org)

C-Create a Distraction

A– Ask Directly

R– Refer to an authority

E– Enlist others

By creating a distraction to advert the offenders attention, asking the offender directly to stop, referring to the proper authorities, or enlisting the help of others to advocate for awareness, bystanders have the ability to help a victim or potentially stop harassment before it happens. 

No one solution will ever completely put an end to sexual harassment, but starting a conversation, educating, and taking action, are crucial first steps to further success.