Photo by D Sharon Pruitt via Flickr
I came across a very disturbing newscast the other day regarding a trend in middle schools and high schools in California and other parts of the country. It’s about a trend called “scooping.” It basically amounts to sexual assault, although it seems to be treated as if it were just a harmless game.
Scooping is when a boy comes up behind a girl and quickly shoves his hands up the front of her shirt, grabbing her breasts, then runs away (Urban Dictionary). Watch the video below for details of one incident at a California middle school.
What is most disturbing about this is the fact that it seems to be some type of game. Labeling something a game automatically begins to (in their own minds) absolve “players” of any responsibility for their actions. Basically, it becomes an “everyone is playing it; it’s just a game; no one is getting hurt” mentality—even if their actions actually do cause harm to individuals.
I understand that kids in middle and high school are just beginning to explore their sexuality, but this is not an appropriate way to explore that curiosity. If you have a son, talk to him about sexual assault, what it is, and what it means to it’s victims. IF you have daughters, ask them about scooping, if it happens at their school, and if they have been victims. Make sure that both your daughters and sons understand that scooping is a crime and not a harmless game.
James Gunter is the editor of The Crime Map and the director of social media for CrimeReports.com.
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This is very disturbing. Have you researched what schools are trying to do to end this? I will be sure to talk to my nieces and nephews about this as well. (My kids are not old enough to deal with this yet and will go to a Christian School). Thanks for the information.
When teaching young kids about private areas and physical contact, it’s important to teach them that respect has to go both ways. If a physical gesture is not made with respect and/or care, it should not be made. Kids are never too young to learn that lesson.
I agree, calling this a game is really an attempt to diminish the fact that it’s assault.
I couldn’t believe this when I saw it. This needs to be stopped, immediately. Respect needs to be taught to these young men and young women and backed and enforced by schools. Like you brought out, to call this a game is to encourage the kids thinking process to change regarding what is appropriate with the opposite sex. Especially the boys need to be taught (by example in their fathers and male mentors) how to behave and show appropriate affection. The girls need to be shown how to have respect for their bodies and that if anything like this happens to immediately tell an adult. I know that punishments in cases like this with young people often get overblown, but I can’t help but think that two days suspension is a little too lenient on the part of the school. In the wake of so many incidents in middle and high schools occuring, schools need to consider further security measures, whatever they may be, to ensure this stops and more severe incidents prevented. Thank you for the information I will share it with my family.