Plan International UK / University of York · 2022
This qualitative study explores how Black and minoritised girls and young women in England experience public sexual harassment (PSH), finding that their experiences are distinctly shaped by the intersection of racism and sexism. Participants described racialised forms of harassment across online, school and public spaces, including oversexualisation, exoticisation and faith-based targeting. The research also reveals significant barriers to reporting PSH, including mistrust of the police, victim-blaming within families and communities, and institutional inaction in schools. Girls and young women call for systemic and cultural change, improved education — including anti-racist relationships and sex education — and better reporting systems.