You have been asked by your history teacher, Mr. Smith, to stay after class to speak about your performance. When you are alone with him, he compliments you and the way you dress. He puts his hand on your knee while he speaks. When you leave, he escorts you to the door, putting his hand on your lower back.

Uncomfortable? Absolutely. Sexual harassment? Completely.

Sexual harassment is a topic that isn't spoken about too often, despite its harmful consequences and apparent prevalence. Anyone can be a victim, be it a male or female, young or old, student or employee. In fact, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) published a study that found that an astonishing 83% of girls and 79% of boys have experienced some form of sexual harassment during their time in school. At some point, these students had encountered unwelcome sexual remarks or gestures.

Physical and non-physical harassment

Sexual harassment can be broken down into different categories, the most obvious being physical and non-physical. Physical harassment includes anything from one person grabbing another's person or their clothing to rubbing, flashing, pinching or assaulting another. Non-physical harassment may include someone making comments about another person aloud or in writing, spreading sexual rumors, telling dirty jokes and/or stories, or even showing someone vulgar or obscene photographs. Both of these types of harassment have the ability to harm, and neither should be taken more seriously than the other.

Quid pro quo and hostile environments

Though one might expect that perpetrators in educational settings to be professors and other superiors, most incidents are actually encouraged and started by student peers. When inappropriate advancements are made by teachers, this is classified as quid pro quo.

In a quid pro quo harassment situation, a student feels that he or she must submit to his or her teacher's unwelcome requests in order for something to happen. A teacher may threaten or attempt to bribe a student using his or her power. This may mean preventing the student's participation in a program or activity or lowering the student's grades in a course if he or she does not submit to the sexual advances and/or requests.

A hostile environment can be created if the victim is so distracted by the situation that he or she cannot focus and the harassment has interfered with schoolwork, relationships with others, the feeling of safety at school, or prevents him or her from fully participating and benefiting from the educational environment. Unlike the quid pro quo environment, there doesn't have to be a constant threat or promises of benefit from the exchange of sexual favors. Any type of harassment, from peers, teachers or administrators, may be persistent, pervasive or severe enough to cause this type of effect.

Surprising statistics

One of every four students encounters sexual harassment "often", as in, ongoing incidents, according the AAUW study. Though females are more likely to have these uncomfortable experiences, there has been an increase in the amount of male reports over the last ten years.

Most students (76%) who have reported to being sexually harassed have been exposed to non-physical events, while 58% have experienced physical harassment. Though both sexes have been exposed to sexual harassment, girls are more likely to feel self conscious (44% as opposed to 19% of males), embarrassed (53% to 32%), and less confident (32% to 16%) because of those events.

The AAUW also reported that females are more likely than males to alter their behaviors after their experiences. This means becoming less vocal in classroom settings and avoiding the person(s) who harassed them.

Sexual harassment and the law

Under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, no person may be discriminated on the basis of sex from any educational program, public or private, that receives federal financial assistance. Even if only one activity of a school receives funding, the entire institution falls under the umbrella of Title IX. It includes everything from academics to extracurricular activities.

Title IX requires all schools to have written policies regarding sexual harassment as well as at least one employee on the staff who is responsible for looking into all matters and coordinate efforts regarding Title IX. The coordinator is also accountable for all occurring investigations.

The fact is, as unfortunate as it may be, that sexual harassment does happen, and it happens more often than you think. Know that whomever you might be, as a student at a university or a professional in a work setting, that you are not alone. You have rights, and the law will protect you.