u/Antique-Yellow-203

So, I need help polishing my essay. Everything is done, I just need help to make sure it aligns with the rubric.

The picture above is the rubric. Keep in mind, this is an AP Psychology paper.

I’m open to any suggestions. The primary research question is: “How does sexual harassment affect children and adolescents as adults?”

And finally, this is my essay:

Did you know that 66% of child victims do not report or disclose the incident to a parent or
trusted adult? Because of the fact that the stigma around sexual topics is always so hushed and normalized, it makes it difficult for children to talk about their experiences confidently, also, there’s many victims that usually stay silent because of the fear of being judged, blamed or not even believed for what they went through, and finally, there’s also child sexual harassment cases that go unreported because victims are afraid of how others will react if they find out. To sum it all up, child sexual harassment can
have long-term lasting effects on children and adolescents as they grow up into adults, because the normalization of sexual harassment, the stigma around sexual topics, and the pressure to remain quiet often prevents victims from getting the support they need.

There has always been an avoidance of not talking about sexual topics to children. The stigma around sexual topics has always been such a hushed conversation because no parent has ever been comfortable talking about it. For example, in a study done by Weissbourd and Cashin, “76% of respondents (72% of men / 80% of women) say that they’ve never had any sort of conversation about avoiding sexual harassment to others.” (What Parents Can Do, Weissbourd & Cashin). This illustrates that conversations about sexual harassment are usually avoided during childhood and adolescence. Because of this, many young people grow up without properly understanding how to even recognize,
prevent, or respond to harassment. This can make victims feel less likely to report their experiences and could contribute to long-term emotional effects like shame, fear, and the difficulty to speak about traumatic experiences when they become adults. “One thing that I think all girls go through at some age is the realization that their body, seemingly, is not entirely for themselves anymore… The unfortunate
thing is that we all just sort of accept it as a fact of life.” (What Parents Can Do, Weissbourd & Cashin). This suggests the fact that, because sexual harassment and “catcalling” have just become normalized, people don’t report it or even talk about because they believe that everyone goes through it and it’s just a
normal part of life. They don’t pay much attention to it because nobody else does. Nobody reports it because nobody else does. This is called conformity. Even though people know that sexual harassment is wrong, they still don’t do anything about it because it’s become normal.

Over time, people have become used to sexual harassment. If no one corrects you, why would it be wrong?, “Research finds that families “reaffirm” the masculinity of boy victims by teaching them to objectify and degrade women and girls in an attempt to assert heterosexuality,
” (Youth and Sexual Harassment, Heather Hlavka). This evidence shows that boys are often being pressured to act a certain way so they’ll be seen as a “real man”. Rather than receiving support, they might be encouraged to reject
anything that can be seen as feminine to prove their masculinity by their treatment of women. But, because of that, women end up getting most of the punishment. “The tendency to label and punish children rather than educate and incorporate restorative justice practices to assist victims, families, and communities affected by violence is often a source of children’s silence,
” (Youth and Sexual Harassment, Heather Hlavka). This portrays the fact that, when kids are punished instead of being supported after
confiding in someone about their experience in harassment, they could learn to suppress their feelings and stay quiet about their problems in the future. This lack of support can make it harder for victims to trust others, get the help they need, or discuss their experiences more openly when they become adults.

Another reason why sexual harassment continues to affect children and adolescents as adults is because so many incidents go unreported. When victims are made silent, they usually don;t receive the support they need, which allows the effects of harassment to continue and continue long after the incident
occurs. For example, “Peer sexual harassment is often normalized, and tolerated, which in its own way, increases the risk for further victimization both in childhood and in later life.” This suggests that, when sexual harassment becomes seen as normal behavior, victims are less likely to report their experiences to someone. Because of this, harassment can continue, which increases the likelihood of lasting emotional and mental effects that can follow the victims when they become adults. Furthermore, in a study done by
SageChoice, they found that, “CAESH is extremely common, with over 95% of women and 64% of men reporting at least one non-contact sexual harassment before age 18.” This demonstrates that sexual harassment can affect a large number of young people all over the world, yet many of these incidents can
remain unnoticed or unaddressed. Because these experiences usually go unreported, these victims can’t receive the help they actually need, which can contribute to long-term mental and physical issues well into their adulthood.

In conclusion, sexual harassment can have long-term effects on children and adolescents as they turn into adults. The stigma around sexual topics, the normalization of harassment, and the pressure to be quiet can prevent victims from seeking the help and support when they need it the most. As a result of this, many victims can end up carrying that feeling of shame, fear, or mistrust into adulthood. By being more open to conversations about sexual harassment and creating a better, supportive environment for
kids to speak up, society can help REDUCE those lasting effects and help support victims throughout the rest of their lives. Through this research, I’ve grown to learn about just HOW normalized sexual harassment has become, especially in the workplace. Overall, from my research and from personal experience, I learned that “the talk” has always just been referred to as “the talk” because no one feels comfortable just saying the word “sex”. My findings definitely proved my thesis with every article referenced. A possibility for additional research in this area could be creating my own survey and seeing
if talking about sexual topics with a mother or father could change the comfortability of talking about sex.