Project deSHAME aims to tackle peer-based online sexual harassment by empowering local communities to work together to increase reporting among young people. Today we are delighted to launch Just a Joke? Our brand new lesson plans, quick activities, a quiz and teaching guides are designed to explore problematic online sexual behaviour with 9-12 year olds.
What is online sexual harassment?
At Childnet we define online sexual harassment, or online sexual bullying, as unwanted sexual conduct on any digital platform and it is recognised as a form of sexual violence.
Online sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of behaviours that use digital content (images, videos, posts, messages, pages) on a variety of different platforms (private or public).
It can make a person feel threatened, exploited, coerced, humiliated, upset, sexualised or discriminated against.
Just a Joke? A new range of resources for educators
We have produced a range of resources to support educators in tackling peer-on-peer online sexual harassment with their pupils in an appropriate and engaging way. The Just a Joke? Toolkit is designed specifically for use with young people aged 9-12 years old.
This toolkit explores problematic online sexual behaviour, with a focus on online sexual harassment e.g. bullying or harmful behaviour online based on gender or sexual orientation stereotypes, body-shaming, nudity and sexually explicit content.
In resources that are used or seen by children, we use the term ‘cyberbullying’ and refer to the specific type – cyberbullying that uses gender stereotypes, body shaming or nude images. This is because we know the words ‘sexual’ and ‘harassment’ may not be understood, used or appropriate for 9-12 year olds.
The resources are designed to help educators explore problematic online sexual behaviour, these include:
- Three lesson plans
- Quick activities
- An interactive quiz
- Teaching Guide
We also have free resources available for work with young people aged 13-17 years old.
Resources for parent or carer
For parents and carers we have a range of new leaflets and films to help you explore the issue around online sexual bullying with your children whether you are a Parent or Carer of 9-12 year olds, Parent or Carer of 13-17 year olds, or are a Foster Carer.
