Sexual harassment is so rife at Welsh FE colleges that parts of some have "no go areas" often dominated by males "who regularly intimidate and harass other learners and even staff members". The findings from an Estyn survey also says female college students are sent unwanted explicit images so often that they don't consider it out of the ordinary.
Many of the images are sent via platforms or apps that delete them after a few seconds of being viewed, so recipients are often unable to tell whether the senders are known to them or complete strangers. Some students take "over the shoulder" photos to make fun of others’ appearance or mannerisms and revenge porn, though rare, happens.
The depressing findings come in responses from hundreds of students aged 16-18 from 12 colleges around Wales. The Estyn report found sexual harassment is common with students affected tending not to report it for fear or not being taken seriously.
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Instances of sexual harassment reported to Estyn by college students include:
- Unwanted sharing of consensually-taken "nudes"
- Unwanted sexual comments, remarks, jokes (either in-person or online)
- Nasty comments about someone’s body, gender sexuality or looks
Frequent unwanted messages, images or comments of a sexual nature sent to females
A recent increase in groups of students simultaneously receiving explicit images on their mobile devices
Revenge porn usually happens as a result of relationships ending, the report added: "Staff members and learners explain that where learners do become victims of inappropriate images of themselves being shared, this is often the result of semi-nude/nude images initially being taken and shared consensually, but later being shared more widely without consent.
"When this happens, it is often following a relationship breakup and can be vindictively motivated, with victims most often being female and perpetrators most often being male. "
Sharing of nudes was described by one student as as partners/ex-partners "treating it as an accomplishment and showing their worth". Few students are aware that sharing such images without consent is illegal and very few colleges report learners being prosecuted under this act, despite being aware of such incidents, Estyn said..
Instances of inappropriate photographs or videos being taken covertly are exceptionally rare at college. Students said cases of so called "upskirting" are far less common than they were in school; partly as a result of learners’ freedom to wear the clothes they choose.
But the report said: "A few instances of covert ‘over-the-shoulder’ photos being taken was reported by learners. Although not revealing or necessarily sexual, in some cases these are used to target certain characteristics or individuals, for example by creating hurtful memes. In the worst cases, such images or memes are shared during lessons in an attempt to amuse others by humiliating individuals based on their appearance or mannerisms. "
Some female students some male learners are increasingly influenced by sexist and misogynistic social media influencers and/or music. During breaks at college they said they sometimes hear male students express or repeat misogynistic or sexist comments that they have heard online.
One told Estyn: "It is difficult to sit with them in lessons after hearing what they have said. Boys can say things to show off in front of their mates… Boys who make these comments get offended if they are tackled about them and say "don’t get upset, it’s just a joke" - it makes you feel as if you’re over-reacting, it makes you feel horrible."
And a member of staff reported: "TikTok, YouTube videos etc are the biggest sources of influence on young male adults and there are some very toxic influencers that are popular."
Meanwhile college authorities don't have a "clear picture of the extent of sexual harassment" among students. While the most serious incidents take place in social settings outside of college where drinking and substance misuse takes place, learners were clear telling Estyn that sexual harassment does also take place in college.
Male learners said they think sexual harassment "is often a result of boys trying to attract girls, or show off to their friends, but going too far and ‘getting it wrong"’. Those most likely to be sexually harassed were females, those with additional learning needs and LGBT students.
Some now felt there were areas of their college campus they can no longer go. The report found: "In a few places within college grounds and buildings, learners can feel uncomfortable and hemmed in. These can become ‘no go areas’ that are dominated by groups of learners, often males, who regularly intimidate and harass other learners and even staff members. Learners similarly suffer harassment on public or college buses and at bus-stops."
Estyn also found: "Female learners explained that they don’t come forward to report more incidents because they fear staff would not feel comfortable in addressing sexual harassment, and that behaviours of perpetrators may be trivialised or excused. "
College leaders struggle to gauge the size of the problem due to low rates of reporting and a lack of clarity among staff and students about the definition of sexual harassment. Incidents are too often recorded as generic bullying and staff lacked confidence in addressing sexual harassment.
Responding to the findings Owen Evans, Chief Inspector of Estyn, said: " "All learners deserve to feel safe. This latest report highlights that much more needs to be done to help protect and support 16-18 year-old learners in Welsh colleges.
"Although issues are complex, there are steps colleges can take to develop a stronger safeguarding culture that promotes respect and the importance of positive relationships. Our findings show that strong leadership and proactive approaches by colleges across Wales can encourage and empower learners to challenge unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and report all forms of sexual harassment and abuse.
"Staff confident is key to tackling this and colleges need to have consistent approaches to professional learning on the topics of healthy relationships, sexual harassment and misogynism."
The report Peer-on-peer sexual harassment among 16-18-year old learners in further education colleges across Wales was commissioned by the Welsh Government. It was written in response to a request from the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language Jeremy Miles.
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Read next:
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- Schools in Wales urged to tackle 'routine' sexual harassment by pupils
