Examining Gendered Bullying, Its Psychological and Academic Outcomes, and Anti-Harassment Policies Among Rural High School Students

Year Awarded: 2004
Project Leaders:
NiCole T. Buchanan, MSU Department of Psychology, Dorothea Anagnostopoulos, MSU Department of Education, Clifford L. Broman, MSU Department of Sociology, Wendy Sellers, Safe and Drug Free Schools, Eaton Intermediate School District, Anthony Habra, Bath High School, Maryanne Boylan, Bath High School

Project Description:
Before they are graduated from high school, more than 80% of adolescents will experience some form of school-based sexual-harassment (SH) or gendered bullying (GB, which is bullying based on gender or the enforcement of gender-role expectations). As a result, many will experience academic withdrawal, depression, and feelings of worthlessness. These estimates make SH/GB the most common form of violence experienced by American children, with high costs for both victims and schools. Despite its prevalence, few empirical studies of sexual harassment among minors exist.

This realization led to this investigation of sexual harassment and gendered bullying among high school students, the resulting academic and psychological outcomes, and the impact of anti-harassment policies. Toward these goals, interview and survey data will be collected from students and teachers at Bath High School in Clinton County. Student interviews will explore the nature of harassment at school, the ways in which bullying is gender-based, and student perceptions of school policies regarding harassment and anti-harassment policies. Similarly, teacher interviews will address factors that facilitate or hinder the ability to enforce anti-harassment policies.

Finally, results from interview data will be incorporated into a survey to explore harassment, its outcomes, and the impact of anti-harassment policies on adolescents. These efforts will not only contribute to the extant literature on school-based harassment, they will also illuminate points of intervention to end harassment, improve school climate, and thereby promote positive development among youth.

Recent Developments: (Article from Forum, June-August 2004)