A new analysis of data from the NUS Hidden Marks survey - which explored UK women students' experiences of violence - has found that lesbian, bisexual and trans (LBT) women respondents were equally, and in some cases more likely, to be victims of harassment, violence and sexual assault as compared with heterosexual, non-trans survey respondents. This new study looks at the survey responses for LBT respondents, focusing specifically on rates for harassment, physical and sexual violence, and the impact of these experiences on respondents, and makes recommendations for further research in this area. Key findings include the following: Over one third of LBT respondents had been victims of sexual assault compared to under a quarter of heterosexual, non-trans women. LBT respondents were more likely than non-LBT women to have experienced all categories of sexual assault. Over one quarter of LBT respondents had been victims of physical assault compared to less than one in five heterosexual, non-trans women. Download a presentation about the findings here. To find out what you can do to support LBT victims of domestic violence, read the briefing we published on this issue last year. Read about more Hidden Marks projects being carried out by NUS Women's Campaign here. The analysis was carried out by Tami Peterson from NUS LGBT Committee on behalf of NUS LGBT Campaign.

2. Disproportionate prevalence of Impact on Physical and
sexual and physical assault
Mental Health
Over one third of LBT
respondents had been victims of When subjected to physical violence
sexual assault compared to under a LBT women were more than three
quarter of heterosexual, non-trans
women. times as likely to have their
physical health and well being
LBT women are more likely than affected and more than one and a
non-LBT women to have experienced half times as likely to have their
all categories of sexual assault. physical health and well being
affected when subjected to sexual
Over one quarter of LBT violence.
respondents had been victims of
physical assault compared to less
than one in five heterosexual, non- The impact on mental health and well
trans women. being from both physical and sexual
assault was approximately one
The survey data suggest that and a half times that of
being LBT doubles the chances heterosexual, non trans respondents.
that sexual and physical violence
will have an impact on both
studies and relationships.

3. Harassment, Questions Financial Control,
about sexuality Estrangement
LBT respondents were nearly twice
LBT respondents were five times as
as likely to experience the
likely to be asked unwanted
threatening of the withholding of
questions about their sexuality in
“financial support that you need
a learning environment and six
to be a student using threats or
times as likely to be harassed in
violence…”.
such a manner in a students’
union.
With some noting that this was done
deliberately as a result of the
Being LBT in these environments also respondent‟s sexuality.
doubled their chances of being
asked unwanted questions about
their sex or romantic life by
another “when it was clearly
irrelevant or none of their business”.

4. Between August 2009 and March The report highlighted the need to
2010, the NUS Women‟s Campaign utilise data for further research into the
carried out extensive research into experiences of different women:
the experiences of women students.
They conducted an online survey of “This report outlines the headline
2,058 women students‟ experiences findings from the survey. Further
of harassment, financial control, analysis will be carried out on the data
stalking, violence and sexual assault. to explore differences between
This report was released in 2010 with experiences for women from different
the title “Hidden Marks”. backgrounds, including women from
different ethnic groups, women of
The headline findings in the report different sexual orientations, trans
point to serious affects on the mental women and disabled women.” (NUS,
health and well being of female HM, p. 7, 2010)
students and a high prevalence of
physical and sexual assault amongst This report is one such attempt at
women students. One in seven analysis of data from the Hidden Marks
survey respondents “experienced a report which looks at issues impacting
serious physical or sexual assault in non-heterosexual, non-trans women
their time as a student”. and is being undertaken for and on
behalf of the National Union of
Students LGBT Campaign by Tami
Peterson.

5. Of the 2,058 valid responses to the The original Hidden Marks survey
survey that were received, this report covers both higher and further
considers data from 2,002 education and as such includes
respondents. This includes all “women studying in all four
respondents that specifically identify countries of the UK, including
as either lesbian, bisexual, trans, or international students, and aged
who selected „other‟ when asked between 16 and 60”.
about their sexual orientation, (371)
and compares their responses to The main report covers all questions
those that specifically identify as asked whereas this report focuses
heterosexual, non-trans (1,631). on the following issues, which were
found to have the most relevance
Quantitative data from the survey for LBT women students:
were analysed using SPSS and
qualitative data were coded by hand. ▼Sexual assault
▼Physical violence
All findings and presentation of ▼Unwanted harassment
findings were reviewed by critical
▼Financial control, estrangement
readers from the NUS.
▼Mental & physical health impact

6. Over one third of LBT LBT women were more likely to have
respondents, 35.6 per cent, had mental and physical health affected as
experienced sexual violence in heterosexual, non trans respondents who
comparison with 22 per cent of also experienced sexual violence.
heterosexual, non trans respondents.
Work, studies and relationships are all
affected as a result of sexual violence with
LBT respondents were more
over double the number of LBT female
likely to experience sexual
students reporting an impact on their
violence in every area listed in the
survey including: assault by financial well-being. One respondent
penetration, attempted sexual shares:
intercourse, unwanted sexual contact
such as kissing, touching or “dropped out & only just resumed studies
molesting, sexual intercourse and years later”
other unwanted sexual experiences.
As with physical violence, the higher
proportion of LBT women facing these
experiences had led to a greater
impact on mental and physical
health.

7. 40
35.7 LBT
35
30
25 Hetero
22
sexual, Non
20 Trans
15
10
5
0
All Sexual Assault
Sexual Assault

8. 29.4
30
25
20.1
20
LBT
15
Heterosexual, Non
10 Trans
6.7
5 3.9
0
Mental Health Physical Health
Impact of Sexual Assault on
Mental and Physical Health

9. Has affected 4.2
job 2.3
Has affected 15.1
studies 9.4
Has affected
4.2
financial well
1.6
being
Has affected 33.6
relationships 26.5
Heterosexual, Non Trans LBT 0 10 20 30 40
Impact of Sexual Assault on
Work, Studies & Relationships

10. 27.2 percent of LBT student had affected their mental health and
respondents had experienced more than three times as many
physical violence. This is compared reported an impact on their
with 19.6 per cent for all physical health and well being.
heterosexual, non-trans student
respondents. In addition, more than one and a half
times as many LBT women reported
While heterosexual, non-trans that the physical violence had affected
respondents were more likely to be
the victim of “a weapon (such as a their relationships in comparison to
knife or gun) being used against heterosexual, non trans respondents.
them” .8 per cent as opposed to .3
per cent, LBT respondents Some reported suffering physical
experienced more physical
violence in every other area. violence specifically because of their
sexuality:
This prevalence of physical assault
has meant that LBT women‟s mental “I've felt I've had to be very careful
and physical health is also since, when with a partner of the same
disproportionately affected. sex in public (we were bottled on the
street because we were holding hands).
One and a half times as many LBT PDoA are now a little taboo.”
women students reported that the
physical violence they experienced

11. LBT
0.3
8.7 7.2
2.7
5.7
Physical Assault

12. 45 42.9
40
35
30 28.1
25 LBT
20 Heterosexual, Non
15 Trans
9.9
10
5 2.9
0
Mental Health Physical Health
Impact of Physical Assault on
Mental and Physical Health

13. Has affected 4.4
job 5
Has affected 20.1
studies 15.1
Has affected 5.5
financial well
5
being
Has affected 44
relationships 24.8
Heterosexual, Non Trans LBT 0 10 20 30 40 50
Impact of Physical Assault on
Work, Studies, & Relationships

14. In addition to being more likely to have environment or in the students‟ union or at
experienced physical and sexual violence a students‟ union event doubles their
and the negative mental and physical chances of being harassed in this
health effects of those experiences, LBT manner.
women students were more likely to
experience verbal harassment in the form
of unwanted questions about their sex or LBT respondents were further subjected to
romantic life or sexuality from another a variety of harassment with regards to
“when it was clearly irrelevant or none of their sexuality. Two respondents note their
their business”. experiences of biphobic harassment:
LBT respondents were five times more “Homophobic behaviour in halls in regards
likely than heterosexual, non trans female to my bisexuality”
students to be asked about their sexuality
in this manner in a learning environment “I regularly get hassle from men who think
such as a classroom, lecture theatre or that I am 'easy' because of my sexual
library and six times as likely to have been orientation ...”
asked about their sexuality in the
students‟ union or at a students‟ union Another points to the disregarding of her
event.
sexual identity:
Also, LBT students were more often asked “Those of the opposite sex, coming on to
unwanted questions about their sex and me and even when I say I am not
romantic life than heterosexual, non trans
students where being in a learning interested they still try it on...

15. Unwanted Questions About Sex,
36
Romantic Life: Other areas of university
18.9
or college
Unwanted Questions About Sex, 29.4
Romantic Life: Students' Union 11.8
Unwanted Questions About Sex, 18.2
Romantic Life: Learning Environment 8.2
Unwanted Questions About Sexuality: 33.4
Other areas of univeristy or college 7.5
Unwanted Questions About Sexuality: 30
Students' Union 5
Unwanted Questions About Sexuality: 19.6
Learning Environment 4.2
Heterosexual, Non Trans LBT 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Harassment

16. The Hidden Marks data shows that
LBT respondents were nearly twice
as likely to be threatened to have
their financial support withheld
than heterosexual, non trans 3.5 3.2
female respondents.
3
Some respondents have highlighted
that this was done specifically because 2.5
of their sexuality:
2 1.7
“My parents threatened to withhold 1.5
financial support because of my
sexuality.” 1
Given the evidence that proving 0.5
estrangement on the grounds of
sexual orientation is already rather 0
difficult, the issue of withholding funds Withholding
based on sexuality is especially
pertinent to LGBT students and needs financial support LBT
further research. (see NUS “Evaluating with threats or
Estrangement” pp. 19-20.)
violence Heterosexual
Non Trans

17. The headline figures in this report suggest address a number of the issues which have
high levels of physical and sexual violence been highlighted by this report. (See ECU,
and harassment against LBT respondents “The experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
compared to heterosexual, non trans
respondents. trans staff and students in higher education”
2009 and ECU, “Advancing LGB equality”
Most striking is the disproportionate 2010).
impact that these events have on LBT
women and their mental and physical
health. They are more likely to be affected The original recommendations in the report
than heterosexual, non trans respondents
by nearly all types of sexual and physical (NUS, Hidden Marks pp. 30-33) suggest a
violence. Further research needs to be variety of urgent issues to address. The NUS
done into why this is the case. LGBT Campaign should work closely with the
NUS Women‟s Campaign to support these
As we know from the 2008 Stonewall recommendations in the knowledge that the
report, mental health is a vital issue for violence experienced against women
LBT women with 5 per cent of all LB
women reporting that they attempted to disproportionately impacts LBT women.
take their lives in the previous year with
16 per cent of under 20s demographic LGBT societies can play a role by taking
attempting suicide. (Stonewall, action to ensure that the mental and
“Prescription for Change” 2008)
physical health of LBT women is a priority
and the NUS LGBT Campaign can take a lead
In addition, the Equality Challenge Unit
has published a number of reports with on addressing these vital issues for those
useful recommendations on tackling they represent.
homophobia in higher education and

18. During the course of working on ▼Trans specific research: Looking at
this report it has become clear the specific experiences of trans
that there are still a number of
areas where the Hidden Marks respondents covered in the research
data can be utilised to further
investigate the experiences of ▼Woman on Woman violence: Looking
LBT women. at issues of woman on woman
violence, domestic violence
A number of contributions in
the qualitative data suggest
that these issues are of ▼Alcohol and Drugs: Looking at the
particular concern to LBT impact drugs and alcohol have had on
women and should be instances of violence
addressed.
▼Reporting Issues: Looking at specific
The NUS LGBT Campaign issues or concerns for LBT women of
should give serious
consideration to continuing to reporting to the authorities
carry out such research to
better understand the needs of ▼Language Issues: Specific research
those whom they represent. focusing on the numerous qualitative
responses suggesting that the
Areas which should be language of the research does not fully
considered for further research
include: capture LBT experiences

19. 371 total respondents identified their The three other respondents were listed as
sexual orientation as a category other one each for the following: „Gay‟,
than heterosexual, and/or identified
as trans. This accounts for 18 per „Sapiosexual‟, „Bigendered Androphile‟.
cent of total Hidden Marks survey
respondents. The final respondent was listed as
„Heterosexual or straight‟*
Respondents identifying as „lesbian‟
totalled 108 and made up 29 per cent 36 respondents identified as trans; 13 of
of LBT respondents. Those which were „trans women‟, 5 were „women
respondents identifying as „bisexual‟
totalled 218 and made up 59 per cent with a transsexual history‟, and another 18
of LBT respondents. Those who were „women with another trans identity‟.
selected „prefer not to say‟ made up a
total of two and 0.5 percent of LBT These were measured against respondents
respondents.
who identified as heterosexual, non-trans
and totalled 1,631. The total respondents
Of the 42 respondents who identified
as „other‟, making up 11.3 per cent of considered in this report are 2,002. Total
LBT respondents, 25 identified as respondents to the Hidden Marks report
„Queer‟, „Pansexual‟ or both of these, were 2,058. The remaining 56 participants
eight identified as not wanting to did not identify into any of the above
restrict, label or define, or as fluid or
open, three are listed as „Asexual‟ and categories and were therefore unable to be
three as some form of bi- considered for the purposes of this report.
heterosexual or exploring.
*Note that this response is included because the
respondent also identifies as trans elsewhere in the
survey

20. For this sample, the base rates were calculated as the total The following questions had under 30 responses each and should be
number of respondents which answered a question rather considered to have a relationship with the identity of respondents
than the overall sample size. The base rates per question but not necessarily a causal one. Further regression work with larger
are as follows: sample sizes would needed to determine causality with certainty.
LBTO (Lesbian, Bi, Trans, Other): 371 LBT Respondents:
Base rate for question on sexual assault: 334 Sexual Assault:
Base rate for question on physical assault: 334
Base rate for questions on harassment: 347 Assault by penetration, 4 of 334
Base rate for question on financial control: 348 Attempted sexual intercourse, 12 of 334
Other unwanted sexual experiences, 6 of 334
Heterosexual, non-trans: 1,631 Sexual intercourse, 21 of 334
Affected physical health and well-being, 8 of 334
Base rate for question on sexual assault: 1,407 Affected financial well-being, 5 of 334
Base rate for question on physical assault: 1,420 Affected studies, 18 of 334
Base rate for questions on harassment: 1,478 Affected job, 5 of 334
Base rate for questions on financial control: 1,631
Physical Assault:
Incident rates for LBT sexual assault were 35.7%
representing 119 of 334 LBT respondents
A weapon such as a knife or gun was used, 1 of 334
Other form physical mistreatment or violence, 9 of 334
Incident rates for LBT physical assault were 27.2%
representing 91 of 334 LBT respondents Had something thrown which could hurt, 24 of 334
Choked, dragged, strangled or burnt, 9 of 334
Incident rates for heterosexual non-trans sexual assault Kicked, bitten, hit with fist or object that could hurt, 19 of 334
were 22% representing 309 of 1,407 heterosexual, non- Pushed, slapped, shoved or had hair pulled, 29 of 334
trans respondents Sexual assault or contact, 8 of 334
Affected physical health and well-being, 9 of 334
Incident rates for heterosexual non-trans physical assault Affected financial well-being, 5 of 334
were 19.6% representing 278 of 1,420 heterosexual, non- Affected studies, 19 of 334
trans respondents
Affected job, 4 of 334
Estrangement: Threats or violence to withhold support, 11 of 348

21. Heterosexual, Non-Trans Respondents:
Sexual Assault:
Assault by penetration, 3 of 1,407
Attempted sexual intercourse, 22 of 1,407
Other unwanted sexual experiences, 20 of 1,407
Affected physical health and well-being, 12 of 1,407
Affected financial well-being, 5 of 1,407
Affected studies, 29 of 1,407
Affected job, 7 of 1,407
Physical Assault:
A weapon such as a knife or gun was used, 12 of 1,420
Other form physical mistreatment or violence, 27 of 1,420
Choked, dragged, strangled or burnt, 23 of 1,420
Sexual assault or contact, 9 of 1,420
Affected physical health and well-being, 8 of 1,420
Affected financial well-being, 14 of 1,420
Affected job, 14 of 1,420
Estrangement:
Threats or violence to withhold support, 28 of 1,631