in the classroom
One thing that was clear from the study was the need for education .
Unintended effects
School uniforms linked to increased harassment .
By Emilie Lauer
Young women who wear school uniforms are more likely to experience harassment in public spaces , according to a new study from the University of Melbourne .
Researchers interviewed 47 individuals who recalled their earliest memories of public harassment , and for the majority , their first experience had occurred while wearing a uniform .
The study found young women in Australia experienced street harassment more frequently while wearing school uniforms .
“ There ’ s something about just being a young woman in public space to start with , the vulnerability that can come with being younger ,” the study ’ s co- author , criminology lecturer Dr Bianca Fileborn said .
“ But then for school uniform , specifically for people , it signifies youth and young age .
“ That ’ s often quite sexualised in popular culture .”
Study participants recalled strangers often perpetrated the harassment they experienced , usually a man or group of men who knew they were underage as they were in school uniforms .
“ Walking from high school to home , that ’ s where most of the harassment I ’ ve experienced happened . As soon as I stopped wearing a school uniform , it happened less . So that ’ s disgusting for a lot of reasons ,” one participant said .
Public harassment can range from catcalling , staring wolf-whistling , and being followed by men in cars while walking to school .
In Australia , about 78 per cent of women reported experiencing public forms of sexual harassment last year .
Government data also showed that about 2 million Australian women have been victims of stalking since age 15 .
Dr Fileborn said street harassment can “ profoundly ” impact how young women access public spaces .
“ There is a whole range of emotional impacts , and for some people , this impacted them across their life ,” she said . “ People would talk about changing how they walked home , for example , so that they were like on the main road or taking a route that they felt was safer .”
In Australia , 97 per cent of women report they use strategies to avoid street harassment .
According to Dr Fileborn , the “ cultural trope of the sexy school girl in uniform ” has normalised harassment against young women in Australia .
“ If you google a school girl , you ’ ll get the sexy pictures , whereas if you google schoolboy , it ’ s a child in a school uniform .”
In their study , researchers found that young women often did not report nor talk about their experiences , under fear of being blamed .
“ Young women ’ s uniforms were often the same around the length of bed dress , and that was a barrier to reporting the incident to teachers ; they were scared the response would be ‘ look at how short your dressings ’,” Dr Fileborn said .
“ This facilitates the actions of these men ; you ’ ve got the normalisation of the harassment and young people who won ’ t talk back or report the incident . “ There are no consequences .” She said that schools have a key role in educating students about street harassment and helping shift the blame from the victim to the perpetrator .
“ One thing that was clear from the study was the need for education ,” she said .
“ Schools should ensure that there ’ s comprehensive sexual education embedded in the curriculum and teaching young people about harassment , sexual violence , sexual ethics and consent .
“ I think part of that can also involve prevention work by challenging the drivers of gender-based violence , challenging conceptions that harassment is just a compliment or that it ’ s not a big deal .”
This week , two schools in Perth issued a warning to parents after a man allegedly took inappropriate photographs of students outside of a local train station .
The man was later charged with 40 counts of child sex offences .
In Australia , around 86 per cent of primary and 96 per cent of secondary schools have a uniform policy .
According to the federal education department , uniforms promote a “ sense of belonging for students and create a positive identity for the school community .”
Dr Fileborn said the research suggests that removing school uniform policies would help to promote student safety .
“ While it won ’ t stop young people from being harassed , it can reduce street harassment as young women are targeted and fetishised due to their school uniforms ,” she said .
“ It would also be a good idea to give them more freedom regarding what they wear when coming to and from school .” ■
18 | educationreview . com . au