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Ask yourself:

  • Have you ever experienced unwelcome, unwanted attention, sexual advances or intimidating behaviour? If so, how did this make you feel?
  • Have you witnessed an incident of catcalling or a sexual joke that made someone feel uncomfortable? How did you respond? 

These everyday incidents aren’t harmless. They’re examples of public sexual harassment (PSH), and these behaviours can shape an individual’s experiences of sport and physical activity.

To understand more about PSH, we spoke to Georgia Theodoulou, sports lead at Our Streets Now. 

Georgia shares the realities of PSH, the issues faced and the practical steps that community organisations can take to create environments where everyone feels safe, welcome and valued.

What is public sexual harassment?

PSH involves unwanted attention, sexual advances and intimidation online and in public spaces, including gyms, parks, pitches, courts, swimming pools, clubhouses and on public transport. 

It’s usually directed towards women and girls, and other marginalised genders, such as trans and non-binary people, but can be experienced by everyone. Examples include:

Catcalling and wolf-whistling, including sounds or remarks that are unwanted and may make someone feel uncomfortable, intimidated or disrespected.
Sexualised comments and jokes.
Persistent staring.
Following somebody or obstructing their path.
Photographing or filming someone without their consent.
Being groped or flashed.

In 2023, PSH was formally recognised as a criminal offence, and in April 2026 the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Spaces Act came into force. 

The Act makes it illegal to intentionally cause someone alarm or distress in a public space because of their sex or their presumed sex.

What are the challenges?

PSH is widespread across society. Most women, girls and marginalised genders will experience it at some point in their lifetime, with the sport and physical activity sector no exception. Research from a 2024 Our Streets Now survey found that:

  • 70% of respondents had experienced PSH while exercising.
  • 80% of respondents have adjusted their exercise habits because of harassment or intimidation.
  • Only 10.8% of respondents felt ‘very safe’ when exercising.

The research also indicates that for many, unwanted attention, sexist remarks and other forms of PSH have become part of being active. 

Georgia highlights this as a major barrier to taking part, as it’s impacted and changed what women, girls and marginalised genders wear, the routes they take to and from sessions and how comfortable and safe they feel attending sessions in the evenings.

It also has a longer-term impact on mental wellbeing, often leaving those who have experienced it with feelings of fear, anger and anxiety. 

Intersectional experiences

It’s also important for clubs and community organisations to recognise that harassment isn’t limited to a single aspect of an individual's identity.

Someone may experience PSH alongside discrimination linked to other characteristics, resulting in multiple forms of harassment occurring at the same time.

This is known as intersectional harassment, where an individual is targeted because of a combination of characteristics, such as their race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or age.

For example, a Black woman may experience comments or behaviour that target both her race and her gender, meaning the harassment is both racial and sexist.

Understanding how different forms of discrimination can intersect is essential in helping organisations respond effectively, provide appropriate support, and create safer, more inclusive environments for everyone.

How can clubs and community organisations respond?

While many clubs and community organisations are aware of PSH they don’t always have the skills, confidence or knowledge to address these issues effectively.

Clubs and community organisations can effectively challenge the attitudes and behaviours that enable PSH through responding appropriately to incidents and focusing on prevention. 

  • Moving from awareness to action

    Georgia suggests several different ways for organisations to move from awareness to action, embedding a culture of safety, inclusion and accountability. These include:

    Building awareness and understanding

    Start conversations on PSH and provide opportunities for participants to listen to lived experiences. 

    Upskilling the workforce

    Provide training to help your workforce recognise and respond to incidents of PSH.

    Setting expectations

    Create and promote a code of conduct that addresses and outlines the action that will be taken in response to any forms of harassment.

    Making reporting simple

    Ensure any concerns can be raised and reported easily and that clear processes are in place to investigate these. This could include having a welfare officer and their contact information publicly available.

    Taking action

    Respond to any concerns raised, no matter how big or small they might seem, and be proactive in promoting awareness of PSH. 

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Who are Our Streets Now?

Our Streets Now was founded in 2019. They’re the national movement against PSH and campaign for a world in which women, girls and marginalised groups can thrive free from harassment, intimidation or gender stereotypes. 

Their approach combines campaigning, education and practical tools to empower organisations to act.

Within the sport and physical activity sector, their work supports clubs and community organisations to:

  • Recognise incidents of PSH.
  • Build confidence in responding to incidents.
  • Create safer environments for participants, volunteers and staff.
  • Embed inclusion into their organisational culture.

To help, they’ve developed a free to download toolkit which helps clubs and community organisations to understand what PSH is, its impact, top tips and best practice. 

To download the toolkit, register for free below: 
 

Public Sexual Harassment Toolkit