"One of the worst cases of sexual harassment one local expert dealt with involved a fourth-grader who bought a big dill pickle at a school fundraiser every Thursday, tucked it into the zipper of his pants and asked girls to touch it."
2007-08-03 11:12:19 · 49 answers · asked by pcmkrfn 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
This is taken from an article I read, it is not something that happened to me or anyone I know.
Personally, I do not think it is harrassment, and it made me wonder what others thought.
2007-08-03 11:16:40 · update #1
The boy is only 9 or 10 years old. It is not sexual harassment yet. It needs to be addressed that it is inappropriate. If he was in high school I would consider it sexual harassment
2007-08-03 11:17:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
One bold *** kid! Wow! And I have a son, and if he did something like this, I would want to curl up and disappear!
While I do think this is a classic example of sexual harassment, I don't think this fourth grader ever thought about how serious of an offense it would be. Crude humor taken into consideration, I think if this kid had been an adult, up on a stage, at a comedy club, and set up with the right jokes, he'd have had a whole club of people laughing until tears were coming from their eyes. Though he might have thought it was funny, or was even acting out something he might have seen on television, or someone's private 'video stash', I don't think he was knowingly out to do harm. But, I'm sure he's well aware of it now! And truthfully, if such behavior is curbed at an early age, we have a greater chance of him not making the mistake of doing something worse as an adult. All things have a place and a season...and whipping a big dill pickle outta your pants in school and asking girls to touch it is...not the place...or the season!
Sometimes you learn life lessons the hard way.
Oh blah dee, oh blah dah!
2007-08-03 11:36:28 · answer #2 · answered by kadara 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have conflicting thoughts on this. If someone did that to my daughter I would be very angry, especially if she was upset over it. However fourth grade is so young.
Another thought is: ONE TIME would be something you could giggle about, but after that I would assume the parents would be contacted. If the parents could not or would not stop this behavior, then there is a big problem. The article says that every Thurs. this kid did this. Yes, as a parent of another child in that school, I would have a big problem with this.
2007-08-03 12:04:39 · answer #3 · answered by Patti C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Boys will be boys is when he does it once. "Every Thursday" indicates a pattern of behavior that he continues because he's getting a reaction. Girls that age would likely laugh and be creeped out/upset at the same time--they're not sophisticated enough to know how to tell the boy to stop. I'm a 3rd grade teacher, and I feel that any boy in my class would know that that sort of behavior is inappropriate. Is it funny? Sort of if you're among close friends, but at a school fundraiser? Red flags waving...
2007-08-03 11:27:36 · answer #4 · answered by slfranken 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
IF once, maybe chalk it up to "boys will be boys", but repeated like this, chalk it up to bad parenting.
This is both sexual harrassment and bad parenting. After the first time, the boys parents or legal guardian should have had a long talk with this boy.
My father would have allowed this behavior the first time and only the first time. And if he knew I was even thinking about it, it wouldn't happen the first time.
This type of behavior, gone uncorrected, could lead to more serious sexual misbehavior as the boy grows older.
2007-08-03 11:17:53 · answer #5 · answered by Matthew Stewart 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I really feel it is sexual harassment because it has too many sexual undertones. Also, he should be forced to realize that this type of behavior is inappropriate before he tries to top the pickle show with something more extreme. Not to mention, I'm sure there are several fourth grade girls who feel VERY uncomfortable about the whole thing, but may be afraid to say something. And finally, if they are taught that it is "funny" or "just a joke," what's next?
2007-08-03 11:17:03 · answer #6 · answered by dt. 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
A fourth grader? That means this boy is only 10.
For most boys, this is prepubescent, and too young to know about such sexual acts.
I wouldn't call it harrassment unless any girls felt forced or pressured to touch it, but I would certainly suspend him and have his behavior investigated.
I would be concerned that the boy is sexually abused.
2007-08-03 14:26:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I would think it was simply boys being boys but the law thinks those old dusty pictures my mom took of me playing in the bathtub when I was 6 months is porn so what do I know.
I would on the other hand be a tad bit concerned about a 4th grader doing that. I realize kids are growing up faster then my generation did but never the less it does raise a RED flag for me.
2007-08-03 11:17:31 · answer #8 · answered by Ashley H 2 · 6⤊ 2⤋
Regardless of his intentions- I would say sexual harassment. It was a sexual innuendo anyhow.... Hopefully he was an innocent fourth grader that didn't realize the severity of his joke rather than it being a reflection of his upbringing.
2007-08-03 11:22:09 · answer #9 · answered by monday 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
What's more scary is if this behavior goes without explanation and unchecked. Though it seems just a boy being a boy, a boy becomes a man who must adhere to certain mores...and this isn't one of them. As a parent, I would be very suspect of his behavior and feel scared for my daughters because, as kids, it might teach that this type of thing is funny. So, when an adult comes along asking the same thing...she won't know the difference.
2007-08-03 11:16:40 · answer #10 · answered by isisjean 3 · 5⤊ 2⤋