A new report has found that one in three girls in the UK have been sexually harassed when in public wearing their school uniform. Two thirds of girls have said they experienced unwanted sexual attention in public while in uniform.
Children’s charity, Plan International UK, commissioned the report and are now calling on bystanders to challenge harassment when they see it. The report surveyed more than 1000 teenagers and young women aged from 14 to 21 and also interviewed girls and academics. According to the report, many young girls feel that street harassment is all part of growing up.
Other unsettling figures that came out of the report included:
- 66% of girls saying they had experienced unwanted sexual attention or physical contact when out in public
- 35% reported receiving unwanted sexual contact including being touched, grabbed and groped.
- More than one in three girls received unwanted attention including being groped, stared at, cat called and wolf whistled when walking to and from school in uniform.
- One quarter of the girls surveyed said they had been filmed or photographed by strangers without permission.
- Girls as young as 8 described experiencing and witnessing street harassment.
The report also featured anecdotes from the young women that were interviewed. One aged 17 told the charity that street harassment had become part of the norm for her. An 18 year old said that street harassment was part of ‘bro culture’ and that her dad had told her ‘you know what men are like.’ Another talked of being followed by someone in a car while walking alone.
The charity is hoping that the report will spur bystanders to step in if they witness harassment and for those that approach young girls to be more aware of their behaviour. They are calling on the government to recognise street harassment as a type of gender based violence.
They have recommended that there be public awareness campaigns to spread the message that street harassment is not ok and to offer support to boys and men to change their attitudes and challenge harassment.
Other recommendations include training for bystanders on how to safely intervene and workers in public places on spotting and reporting harassment. They have also suggested that the government provide relationship and sex education to young people to help stamp out street harassment.
The charity’s chief executive said it was “shocking and deeply concerning” that school aged girls are being sexually harassed. Speaking to reporters, she said: “it is simply not acceptable that girls as young as 12 are being wolf-whistled at in public, touched against their will, stared at or even followed. This disgraceful behaviour needs to be called out and stopped.”
Another organisation that works to eliminate street harassment, Hollaback!, has issued some advice to help deal with being harassed in public. They say there is no right or wrong way to respond, but if you choose to speak to your assailant, they advice being firm in explaining why this is not appropriate, not being apologetic about that fact and to not engage any further. Keep moving, they say, after you’ve said your piece.
Have you had any experience with street harassment? What do you think can be done to protect children? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.
