BHS Stop Harassing

Click here to edit subtitle

Stories

Everyone's experiences in sexual harassment are unique, but it can be empowering to share what you went through and see that you are not alone. Submit your own story to have it posted below, and scroll down to read others'.
Thank you for submitting your story. By sharing your experiences, you're helping other survivors know that they are not alone. Your story will be reviewed, but not edited, by a moderator, and then published.
Oops. An error occurred.
Click here to try again.

Stories

Heidi
This from the winter 2015 Ms. Magazine: At Norman (Oklahoma) High School, students walked out in protest of the administration's treatment of three teenage girls who were allegedly raped by the same male student (who has now been charged). One of the girls was bullied after a video of the assault circulated around school. when the girls approached school officials for help, they were told to leave school and "come back when it calms down next semester." The viral hashtag #YesAllDaughters was born from the activist efforts of students and their parents.
Anonymous
I have been repeatedly harassed by these 2 boys in my math class, they have commented on my outfits saying I look different or better, constantly talk about sex and around me and have asked me what guys I would rather hook up with. When I don't sit with them, they purposely come over and try to distract me or do something to get my attention. When I finally told my teacher that I wanted to be moved, and why, she told me that "they were going through a hard time" and I that everyone had a seat so I couldn't be moved. I was in that seat for 2 months before she finally moved us. I am too scared to talk or look at the boys. Whenever I see them on campus I pray that they won't see me. I didn't think that sexual harassment would ever affect me, but I have been verbally harrassed. When I was in middle school I was molested by an older man, and soon stopped trusting men with authority. Being harrassed takes me back to thow horrific places and I want to be sure that no one ever has to experience what I experienced.

Anonymous

I experience verbal harassment on a daily basis, and am occasionally groped in the hallways, but I was introduced to sexual assault a few months ago. I was walking back into school after spending time with my friends on Shattuck, when a boy asked me to accompany him to the M Building. He pulled me into the bathroom and pulled his pants down and held me against the wall, trying to kiss me. I told him to get off, but he didn't stop, and grabbed my hand, rubbing it over his penis. I managed to push him away from me and run away, but I felt gross, humiliated, and violated. Not everyone is able to get away from assault, and I recognize how lucky I was to have the ability and strength to defend myself. This situation could have been avoided completely if the boy knew more about consent, sexual harassment, and possible punishments. We need groups like BHS Stop Harassing to help educate people so that there is no confusion over what sexual harassment is and why it is absolutely wrong!

Anonymous
My first experience with sexual harassment was when I was in 6th grade, and a boy who sat at my table started making comments about my vagina (which he had never seen). The two other people at our table awkwardly avoided our gaze as he loudly talked about my private parts. I was so embarrassed and ashamed that I didn't speak up, and I felt powerless. I was afraid to see him again in school. I never told anyone, and I wish something like BHS Stop Harassing could have come to my middle school to teach me that 1. it was sexual harassment, and 2. how to stand against it and report it.

Sarah

I was walking down a crowded hall of loud and pushy students during passing period at my high school. I was just walking between classes, minding my own business. Out of nowhere, a boy who I'd never seen in my life wrapped me in a bear hug. He was tall and strong and I couldn't shove him off. He whispered something dirty in my ear and let go, to the laughter of his friends. Petrified, I muttered "excuse me", not wanting to cause a scene, and speed-walked to my classroom. I felt so powerless. Now I wish I couldn't have stood up for myself, but, in the moment, it just seemed impossible.

Heidi

There was a fantastic story about Upstanders in action in the SF Chronicle Bay Area section 1-29-15. A high profile freshman swimmer at Stanford University, Brock Turner, was charged with 5 felonies including 2 counts of rape after sexually assaulting a woman he met at a campus gathering. He was apprehended because two students passing by on bicycles stopped the attack and physically restrained Turner until the police arrived. Turner was jailed, then released on $150,000 bail. His arraignment on the charges is scheduled for Monday 2/2. He has withdrawn from Stanford and has been banned from campus.

Jane

I am constantly cat-called in the hallways, sometimes I am even groped. If I try to stand up for myself, people call me a bitch. But if I let it continue the taunts and jeers get worse. I need BHS Stop Harassing because it is a group that finally understands what I am going through.