The recent Girlguiding survey found that the majority of young girls in the UK feel unsafe and are having to adapt their behaviours through different methods to stay safe
A recent survey by Girlguiding has found that young girls feel as though they need to change their behaviour to keep safe. The study shows that, in the past year, a staggering 68% of girls have changed their behaviour to avoid sexual harassment.
The findings come in light of the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Audit Office announcing that violence against women and girls is an ‘epidemic’.
The study also found that more than half of girls and young women aged 11 to 21 do not feel safe on public transport on their own. The majority of girls (86%) have avoided going out at night and 48% say they always do this to stay safe. Girls of colour are even less likely to go out. Whilst in school, 1 in 10 girls have missed school to avoid sexual harassment.
For many young girls across the UK, the epidemic is a matter of urgency. Those included in the study are calling on government support in amplifying the conversation around safety for women and girls and education surrounding misogyny in schools.
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Girlguiding UK is calling on local authorities and schools to publish community-specific plans to tackle misogyny, listening to the concerns of girls. They also want politicians in charge of public transport, including regional mayors, to listen to girls and act to make their services safe.
They’re calling on the government to introduce a rating system for social media companies, based on how well they protect young people from harmful (not just illegal) content.
“Although a lot of progress has been made in creating an equal world, reading these stark findings makes us realise that in some areas, like the treatment and behaviour that girls’ face, things sadly haven’t changed at all,” Amanda Azeez, the acting chief executive of Girlguiding said.
“Girls are not being treated equally and are consistently made to feel like they’re not enough. This is not only affecting their mental health but stopping them from being themselves.”
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“To ensure girls’ safety and to tackle this issue, action needs to happen now, starting with listening to and involving girls and young women in how to address this. Girls should be able to rely on decision makers to keep them safe, as well as their peers for support,” Azeez added.
She concluded: “We want politicians to listen to girls and pledge their commitment, and for the public to sign our open letter to the Prime Minister, so we can drive real change for girls and young women in the UK.”
Many online reacted to the shocking survey to share their thoughts; with the general consensus agreeing that male behaviour must change. One Threads user said: “Always us females having to adjust how we live because of males. Time for the boys/men to be educated about their behaviours. Not us.”
Another was not surprised by the results and shared: “This isn’t new. Women and girls have been altering our behaviour to feel safe since FOREVER. It’s long overdue, but it’s about time the men and boys learned to change theirs.
Another on TikTok simply said: “we have to raise better boys/men.”
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