NEARLY 80%¹ of 16–24-year-old girls and women say they felt unable to challenge boys and men who spoke to or touched them in a way that made them uncomfortable.  

Reasons ranged from not feeling confident enough (42%) not feeling safe enough to do so (35%) and not knowing what to say (35%). 

The research, released as part of Solace’s International Women’s Day campaign, also reveals that more than half ² of young women and girls have been sent unwanted sexual images, videos or messages by a boy or man. Fifty-five percent of this group have been spoken to or touched by a male in a way that made them uncomfortable in public, with just under half reporting this occurrence happening on public transport. 

Nahar Choudhury, chief executive of Solace, said: “Misogyny doesn’t start in adulthood: it starts in school corridors, group chats and playgrounds. 

“The fact that young women and girls are facing gender-based harassment so young is as shocking as it is heartbreaking. This International Women’s Day, we are arming them with the tools and resilience they need to identify harassment and abuse, helping women and girls to stand up for themselves and others when it is safe to do so.” 

Solace has published a toolkit for young women and girls to help them recognise harassment and establish boundaries by trusting their feelings. The charity has also created a guide for parents, carers and adults working with young people to provide support for young women and girls in this space. Both complete guides can be seen here. 

Tips for young women and girls include: 

Trust your feelings and name it for what it is 
If something makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe, embarrassed, or pressured, those feelings matter. You don’t have to “prove” it’s harassment. 

Set clear boundaries for yourself or friends if it feels safe to do so
Sometimes a firm, simple statement does the trick. 

Talk to a trusted adult
Remember: it is not your fault. You will not get ‘in trouble’. 

Tips for adults include: 

Keep communication open and free from judgement.
Create a safe, welcoming space where she can talk to you 

Arm her with confidence, resilience and boundaries.
Don’t wait for something to happen to have these conversations 

Monitor and guide online activity respectfully.
With the way teenagers spend their time and socialise now, parents and carers need to ask them about their day online as well as at in-person spaces like school.