Two in three Canadian girls say they have a friend who has been sexually harassed; more than 75 per cent of girls between the ages of 14 and 24 report experiencing gender-based discrimination in their lives; and only 16 per cent of girls say they feel completely safe in public spaces.
Thatâs according to new data from an online survey of 1,000 females aged 14 to 24, conducted by Nanos Research for Plan International Canada and released on .
The findings illustrate how ânormalâ sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and insecurity is for girls living in Canada, the not-for-profit organization said in a news release.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, a global ambassador for Plan International Canada, said itâs important for girls and women alike to continue sharing their experiences of sexual harassment and discrimination in order to encourage others to do the same.
âThey have to continue to raise their voices. We cannot stop,â she told CTVâs Your Morning on Thursday. âGirls have the right to come to this life and be treated as equals, to feel safe wherever they go, to have the opportunities that they want to flourish in their own societies.â
Ravicha Ravinthiran, a youth ambassador for Plan International Canada, accompanied Gregoire Trudeau for the interview and shared her thoughts on the surveyâs results.
âIt makes me angry,â she said. âI think the numbers are unacceptable and we should be working towards decreasing those numbers, but I also feel like showing people those numbers creates a sense of community where weâre able to empower each other.â
On a more optimistic note, the same survey found that more than two thirds of Canadian girls said the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault has given them a sense of hopefulness about the future of gender equality.
In order to attain that equality, Gregoire Trudeau said itâs important for the next generation of girls to include themselves in the areas of society they want to change.
âRun for politics, maybe youâll be a Supreme Court justice one day, shape the industries that you want to see and dream yourself into,â she said. âThe future kind of gets less intimidating when youâre the one shaping it.â