That the Parliament expresses grave concern at the findings of a recent survey conducted by the University of Glasgow, which, it understands, revealed deeply troubling attitudes among schoolboys in Scotland; notes that, according to the survey, one third of secondary school boys asked believe that girls wearing revealing clothing are “asking for trouble,” and that nearly a quarter of respondents believe that the term “sexual harassment” does not apply if the intent was to joke; acknowledges what it sees as the scale and seriousness of the research, which surveyed over 13,000 pupils aged 11 to 18 across 37 secondary schools participating in the Equally Safe in Schools programme, run by Rape Crisis Scotland, to tackle gender-based violence; recognises what it sees as the urgent need to confront and dismantle misogynistic beliefs and behaviours that it believes contribute to a culture of violence, harassment, and discrimination against women and girls; commends the work of Professor Kirstin Mitchell and her colleagues at the University of Glasgow for highlighting what it considers is the pervasive nature of these attitudes and the broader cultural context in which they arise; applauds the efforts of educators, youth workers, campaigners, and organisations like Rape Crisis Scotland who are working to foster inclusive, respectful, and safe learning environments; notes what it sees as the profound impact that harmful stereotypes, victim-blaming, and so-called incel ideology, amplified by social media, have on girls’ confidence, safety, and wellbeing, and the growing concern among female pupils and teachers about abuse and harassment in schools; believes that all young people deserve to grow up free from prejudice, abuse, and toxic ideologies, and that promoting gender equality and respectful relationships must begin early and be sustained across all sectors of society; calls for continued and increased investment in education, training, and community engagement to tackle misogyny, support survivors, and build a culture of respect and equality across Scotland, and commends mainstream media adaptations such as Adolescence for exploring the realities of misogyny and for sparking critical conversations about the challenges facing young people today.
Supported by:
Jackie Baillie, Foysol Choudhury, Bill Kidd, Rona Mackay, John Mason, Stuart McMillan, Paul Sweeney, Mercedes Villalba