Which statement is true regarding acts that are not considered sexual harassment under Title IX?

• A. Sexual harassment requires a formal investigation.
• B. Only conduct by staff toward students.
• C. Acts of teasing and name-calling among school children, even when differences in gender are targeted, are not considered sexual harassment.
• D. Sexual harassment includes only off-campus incidents.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that Title IX protects students from harassment based on sex, and that can include gender-based conduct that is unwelcome and creates a hostile educational environment. Teasing or name-calling about someone’s gender can count as sexual harassment if it’s directed at a person because of their sex and is persistent or severe enough to interfere with schooling. So the blanket statement that such acts are not considered sexual harassment isn’t accurate, because gender-based taunts can meet the criteria for harassment under Title IX.

Also, note that sexual harassment isn’t limited to staff-to-student conduct, not restricted to on-campus events, and it doesn’t always require a formal investigation to exist as a reportable issue.