LiftHER

Sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that violates someone’s dignity or makes them feel intimidated, unsafe, or humiliated. It can include comments, gestures, unwanted touching, suggestive messages, or persistent attention. Sexual harassment happens in many settings, including schools, workplaces, public spaces, and online. In the UK, it is one of the most widespread forms of abuse affecting women and girls. Among younger people in particular, it is so common that many see it as “normal”, which can make it harder to challenge or report.

How it presents

Sexual harassment can take many forms. It may involve sexist name-calling, sexual jokes, lewd comments, intrusive questions, or pressure to share images. Physical harassment can include unwanted touching, brushing against someone, or blocking their movement in public or private spaces.

In schools, Ofsted has reported that the vast majority of girls experience sexist language and harassment during their education. Online, harassment often appears as unwanted messages, repeated contact, image-based abuse, or threats. What links these behaviours is the absence of consent and the misuse of power, opportunity, or social position. While harassment is sometimes dismissed as trivial, it can escalate into stalking or sexual assault, particularly when it goes unchallenged.

The impact

Sexual harassment can have a significant and lasting impact on wellbeing. Many women experience anxiety, loss of confidence, and a constant sense of unease, leading them to avoid places, routes, or situations where they feel unsafe. For girls, harassment at school can undermine learning, self-esteem, and emotional development.

In workplaces, harassment contributes to women leaving jobs, changing careers, or holding back from opportunities. Over time, repeated harassment can lead to symptoms associated with trauma, including heightened stress, low mood, and difficulties trusting others. For many women, one of the most damaging aspects is feeling that their experiences are minimised or ignored, reinforcing isolation and self-doubt.

The system response

Responding to sexual harassment is often complicated by the fact that many behaviours sit below criminal thresholds, even though they cause real harm. Schools, universities, and workplaces usually have policies in place, but enforcement can be inconsistent, and many women fear that speaking up will lead to retaliation or dismissal.

When harassment crosses into criminal behaviour, such as stalking, indecent exposure, or sexual assault, police involvement may be appropriate. However, reporting rates remain low due to concerns about being believed, the burden of evidence, and the emotional cost of the process. While public awareness has improved in recent years, meaningful change depends on clear reporting routes, supportive responses, and a willingness to treat sexual harassment as abuse rather than something to be tolerated.