Presidential hopeful Herman Cain told reporters in Scottsdale, Ariz., Monday that sexual harassment is a serious issue, and a serious charge -- one he is not guilty of, despite increasing accusations from women who worked for the National Restaurant Association when Cain was CEO of the organization.
So how serious of an issue is sexual harassment in this country? The same day as Cain's latest press conference, the American Association of University Women released results of a national study (PDF) showing more than half of students in grades 7 through 12 report experiencing some form of sexual harassment.
The study included nearly 1,965 students in high schools across the country, conducted in May and June 2011. In this study, the researchers used the definition from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights:
Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, which can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Thus, sexual harassment prohibited by Title IX can include conduct such as touching of a sexual nature; making sexual comments, jokes, or gestures; writing graffiti or displaying or distributing sexually explicit drawings, pictures, or written materials; calling students sexually charged names; spreading sexual rumors; rating students on sexual activity or performance; or circulating, showing, or creating e-mails or Web sites of a sexual nature.
Some of the findings: