Sixty-eight per cent of girls and women aged 11 to 21 have adjusted their behaviour to avoid sexual harassment, a survey has revealed.
The charity Girlguiding’s Girls' Attitudes Survey 2025 found that over 50% of girls and women within the same age range feel unsafe taking public transport alone.
Based on answers from a total of 2,640 survey respondents, a further 48% revealed that they refrain from going out when it’s dark for safety reasons.
According to the survey, marginalised groups are impacted disproportionately, with 56% of girls and women of colour reporting that they always avoid going out at night, compared to 45% of white girls and women.
The data also revealed that girls and women who are disabled, neurodivergent or identify as LGBTQ+ are ‘more likely to have taken at least one action to avoid sexual harassment’.
As part of the commitment to anti-misogyny, the report has called for councils to formulate ‘community-specific’ guidance, as well as urging politicians and decision makers who manage public transport to improve the safety of services.
The charity has also advised that the Government monitors social media companies to ensure online safety standards are upheld.
‘Girls want politicians to do more to keep them safe. And yet girls feel a sense of sisterhood, standing together and supporting each other in the face of these challenges’, the report reads.
