FORWARD unveils ground-breaking new data on the concerning levels of sexual harassment and assault in public spaces across London. The new research, funded by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and The National Lottery Community Fund, has revealed that over eight in ten young women aged 16-34 have experienced at least one form of sexual harassment or assault in a public space in London in the last two years, including inappropriate bodily rubbing or brushing (25%), and 7% reported having been forced to engage in sexual behaviour.
For black and minoritised ethnic young women, the report reveals distressing incidents of racialised sexual harassment and assault. Over the past two years, more than half (54%) of the minoritised ethnic young women surveyed have experienced sexual harassment or assault specifically related to their racial or ethnic identity. They share harrowing accounts of experiences related to their racial identity, including fetishisation or stereotyping of their ethnicity, body or skin colour.
For these young women, issues of racial injustice extend beyond sexual harassment and assault into the reporting of incidents to authorities. The research finds that many minoritised ethnic young women in London are significantly less likely to feel believed and taken seriously when reporting sexual harassment or assault to police or authorities, compared to their white counterparts (49% vs. 66%).
With findings also revealing that the majority (79%) of young women worry about experiencing sexual harassment or assault in public spaces, more needs to be done to ensure young women feel safe on the streets of London and across the UK. We hope this report will prompt authorities to closely examine their practices and foster a stronger culture of vigilance and support for all women. It is also a reminder to the new government that they must uphold their Labour Manifesto promise to remain committed to tackling sexual harassment as a top priority.
About the research
The study used an online survey among a representative sample of 1,314 young women aged 16-34, living in London, including 521 minoritised ethnic young women. The participants were recruited via the Survation online panel. The data, collected between April and May 2023, were weighted by age, ethnicity, and region according to the ONS profile of all adults in London aged 18+. This research was funded by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and The National Lottery Community Fund. The study was led and designed by FORWARD. Members of the study’s Project Advisory Group included representatives of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) and FORWARD’s Young Women’s Advisory Council. This study obtained a favourable ethical opinion from the Research Ethics Committee at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
