Moms Talk Q&A: Dirty Dancing at Benicia High

“Nobody puts Baby in the corner,” said the late Patrick Swayze in the movie Dirty Dancing. Kevin Bacon also fought for the right to dance in Footloose, but both those stories are fiction. We have a real life going on right here in Benicia.

The issue is grinding, a dance where couples rub bodies against each other, often simulating sexual intercourse. Also known as freaking, this style of dancing is popular at high school dances all over the country. Subsequently, it's become controversial due to its explicit nature. is no different.

Some people think it's just the style and no different than the controversy over the bump in the 1970's. Is it an attack on self-expression?

On the other side, some think it's simply inappropriate, distasteful and disrespectful within the high school environment. Does grinding make groping and unwanted physical contact acceptable?

Legally, dirty dancing can be classified as sexual harassment. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, “The victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct." Does the school have a liability regarding sexual harassment? If not, who's responsibility is it to protect minors from sexual harassment at school?

Should the school ban dirty dancing and if so, what should be done to enforce it?