Ban School Uniform in Pornographic Content

We, the Little Feminist Bookclub (LFB) of the Cooper School, believe that it is crucial that school uniform being depicted in pornography is banned. The possession and publication of this repulsive content clearly aims to simulate a child.  We are calling on the Prime Minister to ban this use of the uniform designed to make us feel safe.

School uniform use in pornography, which may not be covered by existing legislation, is a clear example of material that sexualises children and young people, something described in The Times as "the casual sexualisation of children". It is explicitly designed to evoke childhood and school-age identities.

Whilst the current law prohibits the depiction of someone pretending to be under 16 in pornography (but not those 16-18) to protect all young people and to remove this grey area, we urge you to ban the use of school uniform in porn. In an article by The Times Professor Clare McGlynn at Durham University and a leading campaigner on reform of porn laws, has stated:  “This student campaign highlights the limitations of that legislation”.

She goes on to say that viewing this content has "runied" her day, "but it is ruining the lives of young teenage girls every day. They bear the consequences of being sexualised against their will.” The Times goes on to report that "A 2018 survey of 1,000 girls aged 14-21 by the charity Plan International found that 35 per cent had received unwanted sexual attention while in school uniform, 13 per cent when they were 12 or under, and 8 per cent had been filmed by a stranger without their consent while in a school uniform."

MP, Calum Miller has said: “I am full of admiration for the members of the Little Feminist Bookclub at the Cooper School. These fierce campaigners have identified an issue that affects them and does harm to many other girls and women. I was shocked to hear some of them feel anxious to wear uniform because adults make sexual comments towards them.  I am proud to support them to achieve their goal of changing the law.” 

Children are being sexualised by the depiction of school aged identities in pornographic content. Please help to support our campaign by signing this petition. Collectively, we can achieve this goal: we can protect the current youth and those to come.

With thanks to Tools For Change ​,  Laura Coryton and  Sarah Maile  who continue to support and inspire us.

Media

The Times: The teen girls campaigning to get school uniform banned from porn

The Times: Should school uniforms be banned from adult content?

The Metro: Children are campaigning to ban school uniforms from porn

The Metro: Teen girls campaign to get school uniform banned from adult websites and s*x stores

Helen Rumbelow , Times journalist - It's only when I talked to these 14 and 15-year-old girls that I started to think about how truly disturbing the use of school uniforms is in porn. ​

Philippa James - Freelance photographer

Professor Clare McGlynn - What are young women telling us? Mainstream porn harms and needs regulation.

Professor Clare McGlynn - Impressive group of girls challenging the 'cruel' world we live in

With You We Can: Should School Uniforms Be Banned From Adult Content?

Oxford Mail: Oxfordshire pupils in petition to ban school uniforms in porn

Bicester Adverstiser: Oxfordshire pupils in petition to ban school uniforms in porn

Mumsnet: Oxfordshire school girls in petition to ban school uniforms in porn

Print India: These UK teen girls are campaigning to ban school uniforms in porn films

Ore Oduba: Is this actually ok?

LBC: Campaign led by pupils to ban school uniforms from pornography reaches 5,000 supporters

Collective Shout - Australia: The teen girls campaigning to get school uniforms out of p*rn

Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4: The Women's Art Collection at 40; school uniforms in porn; the history of widowhood

Stylist Magazine: The sexualisation of schoolgirls should horrify us. Instead, we barely notice it.

Bicester Advertiser: 7,000 back Oxfordshire pupils' campaign to ban school uniforms in porn