The fact that normalizing sexual violence alone justifies how corrupt society is gradually becoming. Rape seems to have more of a negative connotation with it rather than sexual assault even though both are uncivil acts of conduct. As 11 year old, Terri, thought that penetration was the only classification of rape, excluding oral. In her case, she was misinformed and not given the resources or knowledge prior to the incident to attempt to prevent such a horrifying experience, especially at such a young age. In Terri and Lana’s scenario, both were apprehensive about speaking up, which by data supports the thesis that several accounts of sexual assault occur but only a small fraction gets reported. The author seems to be honest and not hide any of the subjects minor remarks about the case, making it more reliable and legitimate. For example, Lana quotes that she felt that the incident was a “little rape”, and not a big deal so she just went about her day at school. Personally speaking as a fellow woman, if I were to be put in the same situation, I would’ve done the same and stayed quiet. I am an adult but I would think like 11 year old Terri which is very unfortunate. I am informed and have the intuitive with what to do but I would act like Lana. In that case I would speak of logistics, there would be no witnesses/bystanders, it would be completely my word against his, I could be targeted with rumors going around school, it would deteriorate my mental state of mind, court cases would have to take place, therapy… all this unnecessary stuff for something so “minor”. I would think like Terri, “he didn’t penetrate me so why is it so serious?” That is what the author is starting to bring light upon to his audience and I 100% agree. Sexual violence is normalizing as individuals try to fabricate the truth with an excuse for the perpetrator. I would begin to blame it on myself like Terri, maybe it was fault. Maybe I unintentionally flirted and he made a move, maybe I did something to trigger, maybe it was my fault. But that’s where things go wrong. People should not have to make up excuses as to IF it was their fault. It was not consensual and therefore should be deemed unlawful. Sexual harassment, violence, and rape are all things that must be reported even if the victims wants to remain anonymous.

Data also states that not only girls are sexually harassed but boys too, almost 40% of them. In society, people associate words like aggressive, macho, stern, and dominant (in the bedroom, workplace, posture) which is absurd. Growing up with an older brother, I can see how fantasizing about a student (minor) and teacher sexual relationship would be pleasing but in retrospect, that’s completely wrong. If the boy were to tell his friends that he was raped, they could ridicule him and call him a “pu**y” because that is what boys are deemed to think about, “SEX, SEX, SEX” and it’s unfortunate that it’s like that. But the author really shines light upon both sexes and justifies many scenarios about how corrupt things are and society should really bring unlawful sexual interactions to the limelight on how to handle them, feel about it, and their RIGHTS. There is no more getting away.

The article reviews sexual harassment in the different ways they occur and to whom they occur, regarding their sexual orientation, as well as the effects it has on individuals whether it is mental or physical agony and how it can be experienced across different culture and gender identity group. As we learned in class, gender identity is how one identifies themselves as to others whether they are gay/bi/transsexual and sexual orientation is the type of person one is romantically and or erotically attracted to. It was proven that 32% of cisgendered heterosexual individuals were harassed whereas anyone who didn’t identify as such had a 71% risks of being harassed because they deviated from the societal norm.

The information in the article was provided by an online survey for teenagers, who are now going through puberty and have just begun to learn about themselves, who they are, who they love, and embarking on adulthood while deciding what gender they identify with, if any on the spectrum are being shamed by their peers and or loved ones for not being what society considers as the standards. As a result of the negative treatments, students would be distant from family, not communicate with friends, skip school, stay at home by confining themselves from doing anything rather than dealing with constant resentment, which can be classified as an early form of depression. The article reported that approximately 50-60% bisexual/lesbian and queer girls, gender non-conforming and transgender youth create a hostile environment or be extremely angry at others.
Teens who are In “socio-emotional program” that helps them to control their emotions and build their self-esteem and are supported by friends and family with positive support are less likely to be victims of harassment.

There is no textbook definition of what sexual harassment is, they range from verbal as minor to physical as extreme, it can be in the form of unwanted sexual advances/comments/gestures, request for sexual favors.
This is some of the areas of impacts it can have on someone by causing “negative psychosocial, physical health problems, concerns emotional distress, substance abuse, self-harming and physical violence” this is a daily struggle for LGBT youth, as a result, they may appear less confident more self-conscious/angry and have a great disruption in their studies.

According to the article, there are ways to help youths who have been victims of sexual harassment, if they are close with their family members and have supported adults/friends can lower their risks of for mental problem suicidal ideation.

In her writing from the journal Gender and Society (Volume 28,) Heather R. Hlavka, an assistant professor in the Social and Cultural Sciences Department at Marquette University, offers readers a salient, sorrowful and urgent examination of young girls’ testimonies that substantiates how objectification and sexual harassment are not only firmly established and a systemic epidemic, but how the aforementioned concepts and even (and especially) violence are manifested in the fabric of young women’s lives.  Normalizing Sexual Violence: Young Women Account for Harassment and Abuse provides harrowing accounts that emphasize how fundamental shifts in public education- specifically in terms of sexual relations and sexual abuse- must be implemented in order to counter the hegemonic reality of “why many regard violence a normal part of life.”

Hlavka poignantly asserts that there are considerable confines for victims in the arena(s) of law and policy; and, the systems in place often do not allow for or encourage women to represent themselves as individuals with desire and intention, but- rather- merely as passive objects.  Furthermore, the author astutely contends that one of the most troublesome implications to be drawn from the interviewees pertains to how sexually aggressive conduct demonstrated by boys and men is widely perceived as “normal behavior” within male sexual drive discourse.  Also, a critical deconstruction of the testimonies in the piece reveals a common denominator between many of the girls’ reported experiences: relational dynamics drift at the crux of the issue of what prevents so many young victims from reporting sexual violence or harassment to authorities.

If we will succeed in uprooting these enigmas, if violence is to be perceived as abnormal, and if we want systemic tragedies to reverse course…  adept education, legitimate empathy and a collective interest in the collective are the pillars of change; and, these ideas could be the crucial variables within the equation of how the next generations might move us toward a brighter, more just future.  Regrettably, American society has a long, long way to go in terms of the realization of equality. There is certainly a “glass ceiling” that lingers on and enshrouds the experience of women; this is evidenced by our most recent Presidential election.  If young women (and men and gender fluid folks alike) continue to be subjected to leadership, judges or otherwise prominent role models that pardon actions by individuals like Brock Turner, perpetuate sex crimes in venues like Hollywood and/or normalize “grabbing someone by the pussy,” then the tempering of sexual aggression is nowhere to be seen.            

 

Accepting rape myths is very dangerous, especially the myth that says, “the rapists are often strangers”. I strongly disagree with this myth and believe. In my opinion or personal experience, I would say, the rapists are often known people”. Our society is very much conservative and strict about the sex topic. Nobody wants to talk about that, parents do not want to say anything positive about sex. Educational institutions don’t give proper education about sex. As a result, we even don’t have any clear idea about sexual harassment or assault. Sometimes we don’t even understand that we are already the victim of sexual assault. For this misunderstanding most of the time we keep getting sexual harassment from very close one, also from the family members.

I remember, when I was in seven grade, in my Home Economics textbook, there was a chapter about puberty. My teacher asked us to finish this chapter at home and she never talked about that chapter.  But I felt, that time it was a very important chapter for me. where schools refuse to talk about puberty, sex education is far away. In my point of view, proper sex education should be available in every educational institution. By this education, we will able to have a clear idea about sex. Having the wrong information and idea can make the situation more dangerous.

Parents should agree about the importance of sex education to protect their child from unexpected harassment and sexual assault. I think parents should give appropriate information about sex based on children’s age. Without proper education, we will never reduce sexual harassment.

Any violence is not acceptable especially sexual violence. It is sad that many women do not report rape because maybe they might be afraid of what people will say or how people will look at them. Reading the article Normalizing Sexual Violence by Heather Hlavka, explained people victim of sexual harassment and rape do not report them. It was choking to see that laws sometimes did not or do not support those girls. Authorities sometimes do not believe in these women. What it was more shocking was that these types of violence have been happening from a long time ago, and even though authorities have changed some laws in order to do something, it has not changed a lot.

In my opinion is that authorities, government and in schools should have more support. In schools should teach more about this topic and be supportive and teach the kids that if sexual violence happens they need to report it because is not right. The government should have more strict laws against sexual violence.

It just not right that we can have to be quiet and suffer when something as sexual violence happens. We should report it.