Nearly half of the students in middle school have been subjected to sexual harassment, according to a psychology dissertation from the University of Gothenburg.
In the study, 1,000 children in grades 4 to 6 answered questions about whether they had been sexually harassed, had harassed someone else, or witnessed sexual harassment.
Students from almost 60 classes from nearly 30 schools in western Sweden have participated. The result shows that nearly every other student has been subjected to it and over half, 60%, have witnessed sexual harassment among peers. The children who talk about it mention unwanted touching, pictures with sexual content, or being called by gendered names.
Good relationships between teachers and students and students among themselves, and talking about sexuality and relationships can reduce the number of sexual harassments, according to previous research.
Lena Linnerborg is the education policy chief at the Swedish School Directors' Association. According to her, it is important for schools to have rules that are anchored among students.
It is important to find routines for students who are subjected to sexual harassment and who need somewhere to turn, according to Lena Linnerborg.
Education Minister Lotta Edholm wants incidents that are criminal and occur in school to also be reported to the police.
Both school and caregivers have a responsibility, according to Lotta Edholm.
Caregivers also have a responsibility to improve both the school environment and the social media environment.
