Sexual Harassment in Schools

Transcript:

“Sexual harassment in schools is commonplace and widespread. The following accounts have been collected from real girls from across the UK. Their names have been changed and they are voiced by actors.

Ellie, age 17

‘One instance that happened is when I was a little younger, several boys were sitting next to me looking at pornography on their phones during a lesson, and whispering comments to each other. It made me feel intimidated, embarrassed and upset. It also made me feel self-conscious about my body and worried about how I looked. I hated my body for the fact that I felt like it was only seen as a sexual object. I was often called a lesbian, or slurs such as “dyke”, and whilst discovering my sexuality this made me a lot more ashamed of who I was, to the point that I was in outright denial.’

Bella, age 18

‘I was standing next to a boy and he, out of the blue, groped my chest. Being the feisty young woman I am and was, my immediate reaction was to slap him. I didn’t though. I just stood, mouth ajar, in utter shock that he thought this was acceptable behaviour. He grabbed my ankle and held it in the air whilst around four other boys circled me. Bear in mind I was wearing a skirt. My tights laddered and my not-very-sensible knickers were exposed to the world. I honestly thought I was going to be molested. I felt incredibly vulnerable.

In year 9 physics the boy sitting next to me would run his hand up my inner thigh under the table. A smack in the ribs would normally make him stop, but only for a while. I thought about asking my physics teacher if I could move seats. Did I want to tell my teacher that this boy was attempting to touch my clitoris? Of course not. My good friend on the same table knew what was going on, but what could she do? She was having to put up with the boy next to her calling her an anorexic bitch repeatedly, telling her how ugly she was, and why would any man ever want to shag a skeleton with skin? After a pencil was pushed down my arse crack one day, down the back of my skirt, I confided in one of my girlfriends, who simply told me that I should be grateful to have a sexy, curvy, glamour-model figure. I hated the wobbly bits on my body, and I certainly didn’t want them to mean I qualified for abject objectification. The result of all of this? I have severe depression and anxiety issues. I began self-harming when I was thirteen years old. But with thousands of pounds spent on counselling and psychiatry, I am beating my mental health problems. I still have an incredibly unhealthy relationship with my body. In a year I gained three stone, lost two stone in two weeks, then gained another four stone in the following year. I won’t leave the house on my own and I struggle to engage with new people.’

Sarah, age 17

‘I’ve watched friends be groped and harassed on multiple occasions, leading them to be cautious about walking down the corridors. I have also been on the receiving end of crude comments and been subject to actions that have made me deeply uncomfortable. I once had a boy in the back row of my classroom stick his hand up my skirt. He had stolen some of my stationary and when I asked for it back he proceeded to then reach up my skirt while his mates watched and laughed. I was once also sitting on the floor tidying my locker when an older male student came up to me and stuck his crotch in my face while describing sexual acts that I should do. I had never spoken to him before. I felt humiliated and ridiculed. I didn’t feel like it was a compliment or desireable. I feel worse though when I see that my friends are silenced as a result of sexual harassment. I am tired of younger female students coming up to me with fears. I’m sick of teachers excusing lad culture. I am infuriated by my fellow classmates sharing the corridors with people who have sexually assaulted them.’

Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitude Survey has shown that 6 in 10 young women aged 13–21 have experienced some form of sexual harassment at school or college, and that 75% of girls and young women say anxiety about experiencing sexual harassment negatively affects their lives in some way. This has to stop. School should be a safe environment where everyone can reach their full potential. Compulsory sex and relationships education, a zero-tolerance policy, and government action are desperately needed. Sign Girlguiding’s petition today to end sexual harassment in schools.”

Katie is a 17-year-old member of Girlguiding Scotland. First and foremost, she is a Guide leader, volunteering weekly to help girls aged 10-14 have fun, make friends and reach their potential. Recently she has been asked to sit on the First Minister’s Advisory Council for Women and Girls representing the 50,000 Girlguiding Scotland members between 5-25 right across the country. Her aim as part of the council is to make sure that gender is an issue of the past by the time she’s the same age as some of the adult women on the Council.

Katie has also been a Girlguiding Advocate for two years, speaking out at a Scottish and UK level on a variety of issues affecting girls and young women, from mental health to gender stereotyping to sexual harassment in schools. Besides this, she is currently in sixth year at school, and plans to go to university next year to study English, with the long-term goal of becoming a journalist. She also plays netball, does yoga, runs her school’s debate club, and helps on the school newspaper.