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Gender and sexuality

In HER Shoes

Milk Honey Bees · 2025

About this report

This report explores Black girls' experiences of harm and safety during their journeys to and from school across London. It finds that Black girls routinely face sexual harassment from boys and men in public spaces, feel unsafe walking in the dark (often due to after-school detentions), and hold deep distrust of police and school staff. Girls rely heavily on peer networks for safety, and the report calls for intersectional, community-centred safeguarding approaches that centre Black girls' voices and lived experiences.

Research details

Methodology
SurveyInterviewMixed methods
Sample size
125
Sample
Black girls aged 12–16 in Years 8 to 11 across London secondary schools
Who it's about
Young people in or leaving the justice system
Locality
London (Hounslow, Hackney, Brent, Bexley, Lambeth, Croydon)
Place
London
Youth involvement
No youth involvement
Funder
Violence Reduction Unit Innovation Fund

Themes