Nearly nine in ten girls want lessons about coping with sexism online, survey reveals

Statistics released today reveal nearly nine in ten girls want to be taught about coping with sexism online. It comes as girls’ rights charity Plan International UK calls for schools to better deal with the challenges affecting young women.

The charity says the new Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum, which is currently out for public consultation ahead of being introduced in September 2019, provides an opportunity to ensure children’s education better reflects what young people are experiencing in the 21st century.

Plan International UK is campaigning for RSE that doesn’t just focus on the physical or biological elements of reproduction – but the social and emotional side of sex and relationships too. This would include issues around consent, violence in relationships, navigating the digital world and safely managing periods.

A survey by Plan International UK found that:

• 85 per cent of girls think their school should teach them how to cope with sexist, racist or discriminatory behaviour online
• 88 per cent of young people think their school should teach them how to stay safe online
• 80 per cent of young people think their school should teach them what to do if they see something upsetting online
• One in seven (14 per cent) of girls admitted they did not know what was happening when they started their period
• More than a quarter (26 per cent) reported that they did not know what to do when they started their period

Lucy Russell, UK Girls’ Rights Campaign Manager at Plan International UK, said: “We have to listen to what young people themselves want because they are the experts in their own lives. Giving them the skills to cope with real-life issues is the best way to prepare them for adulthood, and what better place to do this than in schools where they spend a large part of their day.

“We know that girls are disproportionately affected by the issues impacting young people. They face harassment at school, they’re scared every day on the street and they are experiencing more sexual harassment online than their male counterparts. It’s vital that schools recognise this if we’re to end gender-based violence in the UK.

“The consultation is now open and it’s our opportunity to tell the Government what we think the new curriculum needs to look like. It hasn’t been updated in 18 years, and so much has changed since then – most notably the introduction of social media. Gender based violence hasn’t gone away, in fact, the negative behaviours we saw in girls’ relationships and on the streets 18 years ago are now being mirrored online.

“We welcome the Government’s decision last year to make relationships and sex education compulsory in all secondary schools (and relationships education compulsory in all primary schools) across the UK, but that’s only the first hurdle, the next step is getting a curriculum in place that is fit for the 21st century.”

Plan International UK, along with Girlguiding and Good Lad Initiative, is calling for the Department for Education to make sure the new RSE guidance gets it right on gender.

Evelyn, a member of Girlguiding’s Advocate Panel, said: “School pupils need an RSE curriculum which is up-to-date and tackles issues relevant to their lives. In 2015, our Girls’ Attitudes Survey found that less than half of girls aged 11-16 had learned about sexual consent, healthy relationships or LGBTQ identities. We know based on our research that gender stereotypes have a huge impact on all aspects of girls’ lives. We have heard from girls repeatedly that RSE must also include teaching around online abuse, tackling violence against women and girls and gender equality to help educate pupils about their choices and their rights; setting them up for a lifetime of healthy, fulfilling relationships.”

David Bartlett, National Director at Good Lad Initiative, said: "Boys and young men need high quality RSE that explains gender in a way they can understand it, and gives them opportunities to rethink for themselves what it is to be a man. Good quality teaching addresses gender not in a ‘girls vs boys’ way but as people working together. We need to explain to boys and young men that the vast majority of violence against women is perpetrated by men. This will remain a huge problem for women and girls until we bring boys and men into conversations about gender in a constructive way, as part of the solution. If we can get this right, everyone will benefit."

To read the full list of what Plan International UK is asking for in the new RSE curriculum, visit www.plan-uk.org/itsmyright.

To access the public consultation and have your say, visit the Government website.