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Please note that this insight was first published in April 2021, and therefore whilst the subject matter is still relevant, it may not represent the most up to date information in this area.
What you need to know in 60 seconds
The recent focus on sexual harassment and sexual violence in relation to women and girls has led to the government asking Ofsted to undertake a review of how schools and colleges respond to reports of such incidents. This insight looks at the growing awareness of an issue that is arguably ingrained in social culture and by many seen as socially acceptable, what the implications are for educational settings and at the need to develop a culture where all reports are treated equally and not passed off as part of growing up or banter.
We consider the impact of forums such as Everyone's Invited, which whilst a positive platform allowing survivors to share their experiences, does have implications for providers in terms of safeguarding where the provider is named.
Growing awareness
The discussion in relation to sexual violence and sexual harassment has been growing for some time, with there having been government guidance in place for schools and colleges since 2017 (currently under review). Coupled with this has been a growing general awareness of the social injustice often experienced by women with many surviving experiences of sexual assault and harassment. Much of this was initially encapsulated by the #Metoo movement. Originally used in 2006, the hashtag became viral in 2017 when it was associated with the allegations of sexual abuse in performing arts. From there the movement grew, with the growth partially attributed to Alyssa Milano (an American actress) tweeting a suggestion from a friend that “if all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too.’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.” Many responses followed including a number from high profile celebrities.
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