Schoolgirls are choosing to wear shorts under their skirts to steer clear of sexual harassment, a discussion in parliament has revealed. This is to prevent boys from mauling them and exposing their underwear in hearing with a committee of MPs. Sexual harassment in schools has become epidemic.
The Women and Equalities Committee suggested children as young as four should be taught about sexism and harassment in school to counteract "sexual bullying". Girls as young as 12 years old are subjects of these harassments. Boys lift their skirts in the playground or touch them inappropriately, reports The Independent.
Online pornography
Online pornography was widely discussed at the committee's hearing that it intensifies sexual violence and bullying in schools. In a research, sexual harassment had increased through children's easy access to hardcore pornography.
Pornography is confusing children's perception of sexual consent. Since they're not getting the right sex and relationships education that they need in schools, they turn to porn to get that advice or education. In turn, teaching them unrealistic and harmful attitudes, according to Jo Sharpen, policy manager at Against Violence and Abuse.
School authorities
Teachers are also contributing to this violence' reaching a "breaking point" by brushing off incidents of sexual assaults or sexually threatening behavior because of students' relatively young ages. This had become a "normal culture of sexual harassment" in UK schools.
Some schools are telling victims to change their behaviors and attitude - wear trousers - instead of the offenders. Girls are reported to be leaving school every day without being called a slut.
Sophie Bennett, co-director of UK Feminista told the committee in a BBC News report that it's common for school girls to wear shorts under skirt to prevent boys from revealing their underwear in the playground. This adjustment is silently encouraging boys to prove their masculinity to peers by treating girls in an unashamedly inappropriate way and making offensive remarks.
After presenting her findings centered on sexual violence against women to the committee, Durham University's Dr. Fiona Vera-Gray pointed that although there is no single solution to this epidemic, taking action now is crucial. She added that they should enforce a 'whole-school' approach and use a variety of tools to let young people know that this behavior is not ok.
The findings will form part of an ongoing investigation into the extent of sexual harassment and violence in schools in England. Further evidence will be taken from Ofsted in coming weeks to understand whether there is an urgent need for schools to take action.
