Sexual misconduct

Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning.

Definitions

Common

Sexual misconduct encompasses a range of behavior used to obtain sexual gratification against another’s will or at the expense of another. Sexual misconduct includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse, and any conduct of a sexual nature that is without consent, or has the effect of threatening or intimidating the person against whom such conduct is directed.^[1]

In Religion

Buddism

In Lamrim Chenmo, the texts conclude that the four types of errors are sexual misconduct:^[2]

1. Being not with the right person: Including men having sex with men, with people of non-binary gender, with any women not being one's wife.
2. Being not with the right organ: Including having oral, anal sex and masturbation.
3. Being not at the right place: Including temples, public areas and rugged and rough places.
4. Being not at the right time: Including women's period, pregnancy, nursing, fasting and disease.

Among educators

Suzuki Harunobu - "Sexual Misconduct", from the book Fashionable, Lusty Mane’emon, 1770

A literature review of educator sexual misconduct published by the US Department of Education found that 9.6% of high school students have experienced some form of sexual misconduct ^[3] In 4% to 43% of cases, the abusers were women. Black, Hispanic, and Native American Indian children are at greatest risk for sexual abuse. Also at increased risk are children with disabilities; the reason for this may be their greater need for individual attention and their possible problems with communicating.^[4]

Children who have been victims of educator sexual misconduct usually have low self-esteem, and they are likely to develop suicidal ideation and depression. Because the abuser was a person the child was encouraged to trust, he or she may experience a sense of betrayal.^[4]

See also

• Professional boundaries
• Sexual abuse
• Sexual bullying
• Sexual ethics
• Buddhist ethics#Sexual misconduct

Notes

1. http://definitions.uslegal.com/s/sexual-misconduct/
2. http://chuansong.me/n/615449
3. the actual 9.6% figure was for 8th-11th grades. Author Charol Shakeshaft extrapolated it to K-12th, which is questionable.
4. West, Hatters-Friedman & Knoll 2010, pp. 9–10.

References

• Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (Nov 20, 1991). "Sexual misconduct in the practice of medicine". JAMA. American Medical Association. 266 (19): 2741–5. doi:10.1001/jama.266.19.2741.
• West, SG; Hatters-Friedman, S; Knoll, JL IV. (2010). "Lessons to learn: female educators who sexually abuse their students". Psychiatry Times. 27 (8): 9–10.