18th April, 1997. By Gabriella Coslovich, education reporter.
Sexual stereotypes are alive and well in the school yard, a new survey reveals.
Being diferent is still a no-no at school and students who do not fit the traditional image of male and female are often harassed by their peers, the study by the Australian Council of Educational Research found. Researchers surveyed 408 primary and secondary schools across Australia, collating the responses of 5,824 students from the government, Catholic and independent sectors. Physical sexual harassment was reported by about 50 per cent of students, while 10 per cent said it happened often. The harassers were predominantly boys, over-whelmingly so in the case of physical rather than verbal abuse, the study found. Students reported being teased if their appearance did not fit current gender sterotypes.