The Role of Power and Consent in Sexual Harassment (Grades 9-12)

Sexual harassment can take place when one person has more power than another – like in a teacher/student relationship. It can also happen when people have the same amount of power in the relationship, such as student to student. All sexual harassment, though, involves a lack of consent and can create a hostile environment. In this module, we provide examples of varying power relationships in sexual harassment situations. We also discuss consent, including verbal and nonverbal cues and withdrawal.