Two thirds of girls change their everyday behaviour to avoid sexual harassment

• New Girlguiding research reveals 1 in 10 (10%) girls aged 11-16 have missed school to avoid sexual harassment and 86% of girls aged 11-21 have avoided going out when dark to keep themselves safe
• Over half (56%) of girls and young women aged 11-21 say they don’t feel safe on public transport on their own
• 70% of girls and young women aged 11-21 say they have stood up for other girls' experiencing sexism or misogyny
• Girlguiding is calling for decision makers to pledge their ‘commitment to girls’ by listening, taking action and making it clear misogyny has no place in society

New research from Girlguiding reveals how the persistent threat of sexism, misogyny and harassment is impacting girls’ everyday lives and affecting their confidence, mental health and wellbeing.

Girlguiding’s 2025 Girls’ Attitudes Survey, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, found that in the past year, a staggering 68% of girls aged 11-21 have changed their everyday behaviour to try and stay safe and avoid sexual harassment.

Changing behaviour to avoid sexual harassment

According to the research around 1 in 3 (32%) girls and young women aged 11-21 have changed what they wear and 28% of girls said they have avoided places where they used to socialise or spend time. Sadly, nearly a quarter (24%) said they had stopped or reduced how much they speak up in class in fear of abuse and 1 in 10 have changed where they exercise (12%).

The power of sisterhood in the face of sexism and misogyny

Despite these challenges, the research also highlights how girls and young women are coming together to support one another in the face of sexism and discrimination.

Over two thirds (70%) of 11-21-year-olds said they have supported another girl or young woman who had experienced sexism or misogyny, including 41% that said they had stood up for another girl who was being picked on for simply just being a girl, and 36% that have walked or sat with a girl who had been made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe due to misogynistic behaviour.

Over half (56%) of girls aged 7-21 say they have a woman role model outside their family and 53% said their role models make them feel empowered and more confident to be themselves.

Self-protection whilst outside on their own

Only 1 in 3 (34%) girls aged 11-21 say they feel safe outside whilst on their own, and the majority (86%) revealed they have avoided going out when dark to stay safe, with almost half (48%) saying they never go out when dark. Girls of colour are more likely to avoid going out at night or when it’s dark (56% compared to 45% of white girls).

Over half (56%) of girls and young women aged 11-21 say they don’t feel safe on public transport on their own (which has risen from 45% in 2022) and 31% of girls say they have avoided travelling on public transport alone altogether. Disabled girls reported feeling much less safe on public transport (17% of disabled girls said they felt safe on public transport, compared to 33% of non-disabled girls).

Consequently, girls’ lives and what they can do is being limited - especially during the darker winter months.

Hilary, Girlguiding advocate, said:

"More than half of girls don't feel safe on public transport and have faced toxic comments from boys at school. There's more than enough evidence of how widespread this issue is, and it's time we were taken seriously.

“I'll never forget being catcalled for the first time at 11 years old then hearing the men laugh when my friends reacted fearfully, or hearing my sisters share atrocities they'd experienced on trains, or my friends share the comments they'd heard from boys at school.

“Girls and young women say they have stood up for other girls' experiencing sexism or misogyny - which is a great testament to the strength of our solidarity, but girls still shouldn't have to feel pressure to change their behaviour - society needs to shift. That's why we're calling on decision makers to do more and make it clear there is no place for misogyny in society.”

Sexism and misogyny in schools

1 in 10 girls aged 11-16 say they don’t feel safe at school, rising to more than 2 in 10 for LGBTQ+ girls and 3 in 10 for disabled girls. Girls say they are regularly exposed to sexist and misogynistic behaviours whilst at school, starting in primary school as young as seven years old.

A proportion of girls (10%) aged 11-16 revealed they had intentionally missed school to reduce the risk of experiencing sexual harassment. This is even more likely for disabled (21%), neurodivergent (18%) and LGBTQ+ girls (18%).

1 in 3 (32%) girls aged 7-10 reported they have experienced a comment from boys at school that has made them feel uncomfortable and 17% of girls aged 7-10 said that boys at school regularly make comments on girls’ and young women’s bodies. These experiences become more prevalent as girls get older, rising to over half (53%) for girls aged 11-18.

Over half of girls (58%) aged 11-18 said they have experienced boys at their school making comments they would describe as toxic and 1 in 3 girls (32%) have seen a teacher or member of school staff receiving sexist or misogynistic comments or abuse. In an attempt to avoid sexist or misogynist abuse in the classroom, almost 1 in 5 girls aged 11-16 (18%) say they have pretended to be less smart than they are and 54% agree that girls have to be careful about appearing too self-confident in front of boys for fear of abuse or mean comments.

Almost 3 in 4 (72%) 11-16-year-old girls said they want more discussion about consent in schools.

The urgent need to take action

Girlguiding supports the Government’s plan to halve levels of violence against women and girls over the next decade, including its upcoming strategy. However, girls want politicians to do more to address sexism and misogyny, with 70% aged 11-21 stating they don’t think politicians are showing enough commitment to their promise to tackle the issue.

As the UK’s largest youth organisation dedicated completely to girls, Girlguiding is calling on politicians at every level, to sign its ‘commitment to girls’ pledge making it clear there is no place in society for misogyny.
Girlguiding is asking:

1. Local authorities and schools to publish community-specific plans to tackle misogyny, listening to the concerns of girls
2. For politicians in charge of public transport, including regional mayors, to listen to girls and act to make their services safer
3. 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

In light of the research findings, to help drive change and raise further awareness of the sexism and misogyny facing girls, Girlguiding will be taking over the NOW Trending space at Outernet on Tottenham Court Road, London this evening.

Featuring a panel discussion chaired by Girlguiding Ambassador, broadcaster Ashley James, with author and investigative journalist, Cecile Simmons, Andrea Simon, executive director at End Violence Against Women, Stylist magazine’s features editor, Holly Bullock and Girlguiding advocate Aishah, the event will explore the research and look to share insight and experiences, before an exclusive screening of Girlguiding’s new campaign film, ‘A girl’s world: sexism, misogyny and the power of sisterhood’.

Led by girls and their experiences, ‘A girl's world - sexism, misogyny and the power of sisterhood’ will play as part of the Now Trending Outernet schedule from 26 September to 12 October, featuring as part of Girlguiding’s wider brand campaign across, digital marketing channels and out of home. Alongside its calls on decision makers, Girlguiding is asking members of the public to support the campaign and sign an open letter to the Prime Minister asking him to act now to keep girls safe.

Amanda Azeez, Acting CEO of Girlguiding, said:

“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. 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.

"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.

"At Girlguiding, we believe every girl deserves to feel safe, valued and heard. That’s why we’re expanding our reach beyond our traditional spaces, piloting the delivery of school-based enrichment activities and providing vital resources on consent, healthy relationships, gender stereotypes and early warning signs of gender-based violence. By meeting girls where they are, we’re equipping them with the skills and confidence needed. We also want to work together with partners to help us reach more girls.

"However, we need others to support us in our mission. 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."

Laura Chow, Head of Charities, People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Whilst Girlguiding’s research highlights the devastating impact sexism and misogyny is having on girls’ lives, it also shows how girls are supporting one another and their determination to follow their ambitions and dreams.

“Girlguiding provides girls the opportunity to have fun and escape the pressures they face in the outside world, as well as building a strong community of friends and role models to support and inspire each other.

“I am delighted that our players are able to continue supporting Girlguiding, helping to raise awareness of these important issues and reach even more girls.”

Girlguiding provides a supportive space for over 300,000 girls aged 4-18 across the UK. It’s innovative peer education programme, and programme of badges and activities help to promote wellbeing and empower girls to know they can do anything.