AP reports:

A Maryland kindergarten student has been accused of sexual harassment and written up. The five-year-old boy pinched a girl's buttocks.

A spokeswoman for Washington County public schools says the episode in a hallway at Lincolnshire Elementary School earlier this months fits the state Department of Education's definition of sexual harassment.

The definition in part describes sexual harassment as inappropriate physical conduct of a sexual nature directed toward others.

The spokeswoman says the reprimand is a learning opportunity for the boy even though he may not understand that what he is doing is sexual harassment.

But the boy's father says he doesn't know what to say to his son. He told The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown that the boy thinks of it as just playing and doesn't know anything about sex.

Now you all know that I don't have a son, but I do have a 10-year-old nephew who I do watch as close as possible in terms of how he views women. So let me have a short & sweet talk with this 5yo's Pappa. All you need to say to son is this:

BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHER PEOPLE.

You do not touch anyone without their permission.

You NEVER pinch someone's bottom.

Of course, if your son has been watching a lot of football, he may ask why Ravens players touch each other's bottoms. How you deal with that is up to you. I don't know how to explain that to myself! But in terms of boys touching girls, that one is simple. You do not touch someone else without permission. End of story. You want to give someone a hug? You ask them. Want to give someone high 5? Ask them.

The spokeswoman is 1000% correct. Use this as a teaching lesson. There is no reason to have to talk about sex. This is about respecting your body and other people's bodies.

5 is what? Kindergarten? Yeah, I remember that harassment started about then. The idea that the public thinks that kids that young are innocent is bull. They mimic what they see. When we don't correct them, they think it's ok. Harassment has nothing to do with sex. It's about power & respect...or lack there of.

Labels: family, feminism