HOLLABACK! Edinburgh survey 2017 – RESULTS
On the 25th of November 2016, Hollaback! Edinburgh launched an online survey to collect data on public harassment and hate crime in Edinburgh. We kept the survey open and promoted it actively through word of mouth and social media until the end of February 2017.
We received a total of 174 responses but excluded 5 of them due to incompleteness or inconsistency. The following results have been derived from the remaining 169 responses.
The results are presented using the original ordering and phrasing of the survey questions and response options. The survey questions cover these areas:
- Demographics of Respondents
- Incidents of Harassment,
- Responses to Harassment
- Causes of Harassment
- Reporting Harassment
- Impact of Harassment
Further analysis and commentary of the results to follow in subsequent posts.
1. DEMOGRAPHICS
WHat is your self-identified gender?
This was a mandatory question and received 169 responses.
| GENDER IDENTITY | % OF RESPONDENTS |
| Female | 79% |
| Male | 19% |
| Non-Binary | 1% |
| Other | 1% |
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
This was a mandatory question and received 169 responses.
| AGE RANGE | % OF RESPONDENTS |
| 12-17 | 1% |
| 18-25 | 51% |
| 26-35 | 29% |
| 36-45 | 10% |
| 46-55 | 7% |
| 56-65 | 2% |
| 66-75 | 0% |
| 75+ | 0% |
2. INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT
While in Edinburgh, has anyone ever done any of the following to you while you were in public (like on the street or on the bus)? Select all that apply.
This was a mandatory question and received 169 responses.
When was the last time you experienced the kind of behaviour described in the previous question, in Edinburgh?
This was an optional question and received 169 responses.
Where were you when it happened?
This was an optional question and received 154 responses.
| LOCATION | % OF INCIDENTS |
| Street | 81% |
| Bus | 7% |
| Train | 1% |
| Tram | 0% |
| Cab | 1% |
| Other | 10% |
3. RESPONSES TO HARASSMENT
HOw did the experience make you feel?
This was an optional question and received 134 free-form responses.
MOST COMMON WORDS USED
Angry (39 Mentions)
Uncomfortable (27 Mentions)
Scared (17 Mentions)
Unsafe (13 Mentions)
EXAMPLES
“I felt like my personal space was badly invaded and extremely pissed off with “laddish” behaviour. I also felt there were undertones of homophobia in the way they reacted with bemusement that I was even upset by their unsolicited hugging.”
“Embarrassed and worried. I wanted to do up my cardigan so I would be less exposed even though I know it shouldn’t matter.”
“It made me feel frustrated and powerless. I didn’t know how to react”
“Scared and more worried to go through that place. More nervous to be obviously affectionate with a partner. Frustrated that I couldn’t do anything.”
Did other people witness what happened?
This was an optional question and received 157 responses.
93 said YES and 64 said NO.
Did they assist or support you in any way? If yes, then how?
This was an optional question which received 84 responses.
74 said NO and 10 said YES.
EXAMPLES OF SUPPORT RECEIVED BY RESPONDENTS
“The driver asked me if I was okay”
“They said do not listen to them”
“Yes- a girl who saw this happen to me made eye contact with me to say she was going to get someone to help, then did.”
4. CAUSES OF HARASSMENT
Do you think you were targeted by this behaviour due to a part of your identity? Select all that apply.
This was an optional question which received 157 responses.
| YES, BECAUSE OF MY… | % OF RESPONSES |
| Disability | 3% |
| Race | 8% |
| Religion | 4% |
| Sexuality | 6% |
| Gender Identity | 2% |
| Gender | 51% |
| Age | 7% |
| NO | 14% |
| OTHER | 6% |
5. REPORTING HARASSMENT
Did you tell anyone? Select all that apply.
This was an optional question which received 156 responses.
| I TOLD… | % OF RESPONSES |
| Friends | 50% |
| Teachers | 1% |
| Family Members | 18% |
| Youth Workers | 0% |
| Police | 3% |
| Bus Driver/Staff | 2% |
| Train/Station Staff | 0% |
| No-One | 22% |
| Other | 4% |
If you didn’t report it to the police, or an authority figure (like the bus driver), why not? Select all that apply.
This was an optional question which received 145 responses.
| REASONS FOR NOT REPORTING | % OF RESPONSES |
| I didn’t know who to report it to | 12% |
| I didn’t feel comfortable reporting it | 8% |
| I didn’t know I could report it | 13% |
| I didn’t see the point of reporting it | 58% |
| Other | 9% |
6. IMPACT OF HARASSMENT
Due to your experiences with the above behaviour, have you done any of these things? Select all that apply.
This was an optional question which received 156 responses.
| BEHAVIOUR CHANGE | % OF RESPONSES |
| Changed how you dress | 8% |
| Changed how you behave | 9% |
| Avoided going out alone | 12% |
| Avoided going out at certain times | 17% |
| Avoided specific places | 16% |
| Avoided eye contact | 22% |
| Avoided certain means of transport | 2% |
| I did not change my behaviour due to these experiences | 15% |
