An Exploratory Study of African American Adolescents’ Talk About Peer Sexual Harassment: More Support for the Utility of Feminist Theory

ABSTRACT

A qualitative exploratory study examined African American 7th graders’ talk about peer sexual harassment (N = 21). A thematic analysis of single-gender discussion groups demonstrated that while students held misconceptions about sexual harassment, they were fluent in the cultural norms that expect boys to push sexual boundaries and girls to enforce them. We propose that feminist theory, which views personal interactions through the lens of power hierarchies, provides a useful explanation of the students’ talk about peer sexual harassment. Our experience points to the value of group work to explore students’ prior knowledge and underlying beliefs about sexual harassment before intervening.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescent groups
• African American
• feminist theory
• gender
• sexual harassment

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Josephine Grant Lindsley

Josephine Grant Lindsley, M.S., N.C.C., is a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Psychology at Georgia State University.

Johari Harris

Johari Harris, Ph.D., is a research associate at the University of Virginia.

Ann Cale Kruger

Ann Cale Kruger, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at Georgia State University.

Joel P. Meyers

Joel P. Meyers, Ph.D., is a regents’ professor in the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services at Georgia State University.