UK Research Highlights Prevalence of Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions

A report titled 'Hidden Marks: A study of women students’ experiences of harassment, stalking, violence and sexual assault' has just been released.  This report outlines findings from a survey carried out by the National Union of Students in the United Kingdom exploring the prevalence and nature of harassment, stalking, financial control, control over course and institution choice, and physical and sexual violence faced by women students.

The UK-wide study provides a snapshot of the experiences of women students today. It includes information about survey respondents’ experiences of harassment and violence, the extent to which these crimes were reported and to whom, the profile of offenders, and the impact of such incidences on women students’ health, relationships and education.

The study involved 2058 women and covers full-time and part-time students in both further and higher education. Both UK-domiciled and international students took part, and surveys were completed by students studying in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The research shows that high numbers of women students in the United Kingdom face ‘everyday’, low-level harassment and intrusive behaviour.

Key findings from the study are:

• Over two thirds of respondents (68 per cent) have experienced some kind of verbal or non-verbal harassment in and around their institution (includes groping, flashing and unwanted sexual comments)

• 12 per cent of respondents reported being subject to stalking

• Students were the majority of perpetrators in most categories, the majority of whom were studying at the same institution as the respondent

• Reporting levels were low across all categories surveyed. Respondents were most likely to report stalking to somebody at the institution (21 per cent), and victims of serious physical violence were most likely to report the incident to the police (17 per cent)

• Women students in all categories were most likely to report or discuss what had happened to them with friends or family

• More than four in ten victims of serious sexual assault had told nobody about what had happened to them

The report makes a number of recommendations;  the first is that institutions and students' unions should adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to non-verbal and verbal sexual harassment.

Such an approach would:

• send out a strong signal to both staff and students that such behaviour is unacceptable both within and outside of the learning environment; and,

• create an environment in which women students are able to participate with dignity and confidence

The full report is available in pdf format via the National Union of Students website here.   

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