and confidence and increased feelings of anger, frustration, depression, and anxiety" (Riger, as quoted in Lumsden, 1992). Often the victims blame themselves. These feelings can leave a student with a "decreased ability to concentrate and a sense of listlessness" (Hotelling, as cited in Lumsden, 1992).
"Boys Will Be Boys" blared the title of a Newsweek article arguing that "boys have higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which inhibits aggression and impulsivity" (Kantrowitz et al., 1998, p. 56). To ensure that their point wouldn't be lost, the authors' final words were, "Boys will be boys. And we have to let them" (Kantrowitz et al., 1998, p. 60). Therein lies the crux of the problem of dealing with peer-to-peer sexual harassment in the public schools: adults' overt approval of boys just being boys.
If biology is destiny, at least with respect to the aggressive behaviors of males, does it follow that those behaviors must be deemed acceptable or appropriate by society, and schools in particular? And, if a male comes from an ethnic or racial subculture that endorses insensitivity or aggressive masculine behavior, does it follow that all of society, and schools in particular, must accept this behavior unquestioningly or be called insensitive, or worse, racists?
Webster's defines the word acceptable as "that may be received with pleasure" and the word appropriate as "a peculiar characteristic." Thus, boys may be biologically predisposed to aggressive and impulsive behavior, and therefore, the behavior may be appropriate, but that does not make it acceptable.
Society's acceptance of male behavior does not stand alone as the only factor in creating boys who behave poorly and with impunity. Television has come in for a good deal of the blame, with its gratuitous violence and salacious acts of violence against women. America's cultural ideals, as reflected in movies, televi...