New research shows the toll sexism is taking - but also the communities of resistance being built to fight it
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.
The charity’s 2025 Girls’ Attitudes Survey 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.
According to the research around one in three (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 one in 10 have changed where they exercise (12%).
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.
Only one in three (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.
Consequently, girls’ lives and what they can do is being limited - especially during the darker winter months.
One in 10 girls aged 11-16 say they don’t feel safe at school, rising to more than two in 10 for LGBTQ+ girls and three in 10 for disabled girls. Girls say they are regularly exposed to sexist and misogynistic behaviours while 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%).
One in three (32%) girls aged seven-10 reported they have experienced a comment from boys at school that has made them feel uncomfortable and 17% of girls aged seven-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 one in three 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 one in five 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 three in four (72%) 11-16-year-old girls said they want more discussion about consent in schools.
Girls want politicians to do more to address sexism and misogyny, with 70% aged 11-21 stating they don’t think politicians are showing enough commitment to their promise to tackle the issue.
As the UK’s largest youth organisation dedicated completely to girls, Girlguiding is calling on politicians at every level, to sign its ‘commitment to girls’ pledge making it clear there is no place in society for misogyny.
Amanda Azeez, acting CEO of Girlguiding, said: “Although a lot of progress has been made in creating an equal world, reading these stark findings makes us realise that in some areas, like the treatment and behaviour that girls' face, things sadly haven't changed at all. Girls are not being treated equally and are consistently made to feel like they’re not enough. This is not only affecting their mental health but stopping them from being themselves.
"To ensure girls’ safety and to tackle this issue, action needs to happen now, starting with listening to and involving girls and young women in how to address this.”
