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).
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.