Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassmentand Driver Trainingand Driver Training

Safe EnvironmentSafe Environment

The Ohio Department of Public Safety feels The Ohio Department of Public Safety feels strongly that the driver training environment strongly that the driver training environment needs to be a safe place for the student to needs to be a safe place for the student to learn and the instructor to teach. learn and the instructor to teach.

Complaints will be taken seriously and mayComplaints will be taken seriously and may result in an investigation. result in an investigation.

Position of AuthorityPosition of Authority

Any person who is a parent or acting in the Any person who is a parent or acting in the place of a parent and charged with any of theplace of a parent and charged with any of theparent’s rights, duties or responsibilities to aparent’s rights, duties or responsibilities to achild.child.

A person who is charged with any duty A person who is charged with any duty or responsibility for the health, welfareor responsibility for the health, welfareor supervision of a child, eitheror supervision of a child, eitherindependently or through another,independently or through another,no matter how brief, at theno matter how brief, at thetime of the act.time of the act.

Position of AuthorityPosition of Authority

A driving instructor is in a position ofA driving instructor is in a position ofpower over a minor student who is workingpower over a minor student who is workingto receive a “Certificate of Completion”to receive a “Certificate of Completion”for driver training.for driver training.

The instructor has a The instructor has a professional responsibility toprofessional responsibility tothe student to maintain a safethe student to maintain a safeand respectful learning environment.and respectful learning environment.

Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

Any unwanted attention of a sexual natureAny unwanted attention of a sexual naturethat creates discomfort and/or interferesthat creates discomfort and/or interfereswith the learning environment.with the learning environment.

Verbal abuse, insults, suggestive Verbal abuse, insults, suggestive comments and demands comments and demands

Leering, pressure for sexual activity Leering, pressure for sexual activity Touching, pinching and pattingTouching, pinching and patting Can end up as attempted rape or rapeCan end up as attempted rape or rape

Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

Examples:Examples:

Staring at a person or focusing upon aStaring at a person or focusing upon a particular area of the body particular area of the body

Terms of address such as “honey,” “baby,”Terms of address such as “honey,” “baby,” “chick,” “dear”…etc. “chick,” “dear”…etc.

Sexual or intrusive questions about anSexual or intrusive questions about an individual’s personal life individual’s personal life

Explicit offers of sex for grades, money orExplicit offers of sex for grades, money or other rewards other rewards

Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

Giving personal gifts to a student can beGiving personal gifts to a student can be construed as sexual harassment. construed as sexual harassment. Instructors should be extremely cautious Instructors should be extremely cautious about giving any gifts to a student. about giving any gifts to a student.

Do not use lesson time to have students Do not use lesson time to have students drive on personal errands as part of the drive on personal errands as part of the lesson. lesson.

In determining whether your behavior isIn determining whether your behavior is proper, ask yourself the following: proper, ask yourself the following:

• Would I want my behavior to be the subject of a Would I want my behavior to be the subject of a newspaper article or to appear on the news?newspaper article or to appear on the news?

• Would I behave the same way if myWould I behave the same way if mywife, husband, or significant other wife, husband, or significant other were standing next to me?were standing next to me?

• Would I want someone else to act thisWould I want someone else to act thisway toward my daughter, son, wife, way toward my daughter, son, wife, husband, or significant other?husband, or significant other?

Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

• Is there equal power between me and the Is there equal power between me and the

person I am interacting with?person I am interacting with?

• Is there equal initiation andIs there equal initiation andparticipation between me and participation between me and the person I am interacting with?the person I am interacting with?

• Will I worry about the student orWill I worry about the student oremployee telling anyone about my behavior?employee telling anyone about my behavior?

Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

Flags or warning signs:Flags or warning signs:

• “ “No one will know.”No one will know.”

• “ “This will be our little secret.”This will be our little secret.”

• “ “Let’s keep this between you and me.”Let’s keep this between you and me.”

Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

What can you do if you are the victim What can you do if you are the victim of sexual harassment? of sexual harassment?

• Be assertive. The harasser’s behavior generally Be assertive. The harasser’s behavior generally changes after being confronted.changes after being confronted.

• Keeping a diary of the time, place, date, any Keeping a diary of the time, place, date, any witnesses, and a description of each incident witnesses, and a description of each incident will help if you decide to pursue a formal will help if you decide to pursue a formal complaint. complaint.

• Tell someone.Tell someone.