The Women and Equalities Committee has exposed a shocking scale of sexual harassment and sexual violence that is not being tackled effectively in British schools.
I ts report revealed that almost a third (29%) of 16-18 year old girls say they have experienced unwanted sexual touching at school; nearly three-quarters (71%) of all 16-18 year old boys and girls say they hear terms such as “slut” or “slag” used towards girls at schools on a regular basis; and 59% of girls and young women aged 13-21 said that they had faced some form of sexual harassment at school or college in the past year.
Young people told the committee that sexual harassment has become a normal part of school life with “calling women bitches and stuff like that… a common thing, on a daily basis really”. This view was supported by evidence from Laura Bates of the Everyday Sexism Project who described sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools as “a widespread, regular and common.”
The committee inquiry found an “alarming inconsistency” in how schools deal with sexual harassment and violence, which is mostly targeted at girls, a disregard for existing national and international equality obligations, and a lack of guidance and support for teachers. Despite calls from parents, teachers and young people for action, the Committee found that neither OFSTED nor the Department for Education has a coherent plan to tackle this issue.
Maria Miller MP said: “Our inquiry has revealed a concerning picture. The evidence shows it is undermining the confidence of young women.”