Two in five women public transport workers sexually harassed, study reveals
25.11.2023 - 17:23
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Two in five women public transport workers have been sexually harassed in the course of their job, a union said its research has shown. And the survey of 1,400 women workers across rail, bus, metro and passenger ferries found that most of those affected did not report the incidents, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said.
The RMT said its study found that women were not making formal complaints because they did not think they would be taken seriously. More than 80 per cent of respondents said that sexual harassment on public transport was becoming more of a problem.
One woman worker said in her response to the survey: "I have had numerous men stroke my bum as they pass by and that's in the day. Of a night when they are drunk it's worse I've had a group of men grab me and say come on love sit on my knee."
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"Cat-calling, touching, staring, unwanted uncomfortable conversation, unwanted 'compliments' and people taking pictures of me without my permission," added another when asked to share her experiences.
A third said sexually aggressive and explicit language as a form of intimidation was 'a frequent thing' and another woman referenced cost-cutting, saying: "There are fewer staff and perpetrators become emboldened by this."
It comes after new data commissioned by the British Transport Police revealed more than a third of women who travel on trains have been victims of sexual harassment or sexual offences during their commute.
Unacceptable behaviour such as leering, catcalling, touching, pressing, up-skirting or indecent exposure is being experienced by women more than ever, the study