Chapter 3
Sexism and stereotypes
Girls and young women see or experience sexism and unfair treatment in all areas of their lives, including online. They think sport and physical activity is good for their mental health, but still face barriers to accessing it. Gender stereotypes continue to hold girls back at school. As a result, more girls and young women consider themselves to be feminists than a decade ago.
‘Sport is good for my mental health’
Girls and young women, 7-21
Sport and physical activity
As well as being good for their mental health, over half (56%) of girls and young women aged 7 to 21 think playing team sports can help build girls’ confidence. However, girls and young women don’t think there’s equality in sports.
Almost two-thirds (64%) aged 7 to 21 want equal opportunities in sports and physical activities for girls and boys. Over half (57%) think it’s unfair that men’s team sports are more celebrated and get more coverage than women’s team sports. Girls and young women in Wales are most likely to agree with both statements (73% and 68% respectively).
Many barriers stop girls and young women taking part in sport and physical activity. The main one is they feel insecure. Nearly half of girls and young women aged 11 to 21 in the North (48%) feel this way, compared to 36% in London and the South. Those most likely to feel insecure also include those who are disabled (55% compared to 39% who aren’t disabled) and LGBTQ+ girls and young women (56% compared to 36% who aren’t LGBTQ+).
Around 1 in 5 (21%) girls and young women aged 11 to 21s say some sports are only available for boys. 16% aged 11 to 21 say taking part in sport and physical activity is too expensive. And almost 1 in 8 (13%) in England say they don’t feel safe when taking part, compared to 6% in Northern Ireland. LGBTQ+ girls and young women are twice as likely (21%) to feel unsafe when taking part than those who aren’t (9%). Disabled girls and young women were more likely to say this too (22% compared to 11% who aren’t).
Sexism in sport also holds girls back. 58% say they see it in professional sport (like the Olympics or Paralympics). 59% say they see or experience sexism when taking part themselves.
‘I feel insecure when I take part in sports and physical activity’
Girls and young women, 11-21
‘It feels like girls have to work harder to get things when boys just seem to get them from the start’
Girl, 11-16
Online and media
In 2018, almost 7 in 10 (68%) girls and young women aged 11 to 21 had seen or experienced sexism online. This figure now stands at 80%. Disabled girls and young women were more likely to see or experience sexism online (89% compared to 79% who aren’t disabled). It’s also a problem for 9 in 10 (90%) LGBTQ+ girls and young women (compared to 76% of those who aren’t).
Over a third (35%) of girls and young women aged 11 to 21 often see or experience sexism in the media. Young women aged 17 to 21 were more likely to have ever noticed sexism in the media at 81% compared to 65% for 11 to 16s.
Over 3 in 5 (63%) girls and young women see or experience sexism in politics. This starts at 51% for those aged 11 to 16 and increases to 74% for 17 to 21s. Figures peak in London and the South (65%), compared to 60% in the Midlands.
‘Feminism means believing girls can do what boys can’
Girl, 7-10
School and everyday life
More girls and young women aged 11 to 21 see or experience sexism in their daily lives at school, college, university or work in 2022 (66%) than they did in 2018 (58%). LGBTQ+ girls and young women were more likely to say this (74% compared to 63% those who aren’t).
Shockingly, 1 in 5 (21%) girls aged 11 to 21 say gender stereotypes hold them back at school. In England, this is slightly higher in the North (26% compared to 18% in the South). It’s also higher in Wales (24% compared to 18% in Scotland and 16% in Northern Ireland). Almost 2 in 5 (37%) LGBTQ+ girls and young women say gender stereotypes hold them back at school compared to 15% of those who aren’t LGBTQ+.
Overall, 1 in 6 (17%) girls and young women aged 13 to 21 say fear of sexual harassment holds them back at school. This is slightly higher in Wales (19%) and England (18%) compared to Scotland (12%) and Northern Ireland (11%).
Nearly a quarter of girls and young women (22%) aged 11 to 16 in the North of England say the fear of sexual harassment holds them back at school, compared to 16% in London and the South. This number was higher for those living in areas of high deprivation (23% compared to 19% living in areas of low deprivation). Meanwhile, those in the North feel the least safe at school (22%) compared to 19% in the Midlands and 16% in London and the South.
‘Gender stereotypes hold me back at school’
Girls and young women, 11-21
Public places
Girls and young women aged 11 to 21 also see or experience sexism in public places like on the street, in parks and on public transport.
As girls get older, they see and experience this more, with 78% aged 17 to 21 saying they do compared to 57% of 11 to 16s. LGBTQ+ girls and young women were more likely to agree with this statement, at 79% compared to 65% of those who aren’t.
I see or experience sexism…
11-21
‘Feminism to me is the empowerment of women coming together and being themselves’
Girl, 11-16
Feminism
More girls and young women now consider themselves feminists compared to a few years ago. Over half (54%) aged 11 to 21 call themselves feminists in 2022, compared to 47% in 2018 and 35% in 2013.
This is slightly lower for girls aged 11 to 16 (48%) but increases to 59% for 17 to 21s. LGBTQ+ girls and young women were more likely to say they’re feminists (69% compared to 48% of those who aren’t LGBTQ+). Girls and young women in London and the South, and in the North were more likely to be feminists (56% and 55% respectively, compared to 49% in the Midlands).
I consider myself a feminist…
11-21
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