Model Behavior
January 13, 2017
“I feel that everyone should treat one another with mutual respect.”
— Math teacher Ashleyanne Thornhill
According to the National Women’s Law Center, “Sexual harassment in education includes any unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior that significantly interferes with a student’s access to educational opportunities. Typical harassment complaints include: making sexual comments, jokes, gestures, or looks; claiming that a person is gay or lesbian; spreading sexual rumors about a person; touching, grabbing or pinching someone in a sexual way; intentionally brushing up against someone in a sexual way.”
Many people don’t realize that these types of behavior are actually sexual harassment. Things like calling someone “gay” in a derogatory manner, making a crude joke, cat-calling, calling an acquaintance “honey,” unwanted touching and certain types of “locker room talk” can all be sexual harassment.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14
Much of it has to do with context. Behaviors that are welcome among friends, families or couples may not be acceptable if there is no relationship there. In other words, what may seem funny, endearing or flattering in one situation may be demeaning, insulting or intimidating in another.
God’s standard for the treatment of others is very simple. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” – Matthew 7:12.