1. Hidden Marks LBT
A report on LBT female students’ experiences of harassment, violence and sexual assault

2. Key Findings Impact on Physical and Mental Health
Disproportionate prevalence of sexual and physical assault
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.
The survey data suggest that being LBT increases the chances that sexual and physical violence will have an impact on both studies and relationships.
Impact on Physical and Mental Health
When subjected to physical violence LBT women were more than three times as likely to have their physical health and well being affected and more than one and a half times as likely to have their physical health and well being affected when subjected to sexual violence.
The impact on mental health and well being from both physical and sexual assault was approximately one and a half times that of heterosexual, non trans respondents.

3. Key Findings Harassment, Questions about sexuality
LBT respondents were five times as likely to be asked unwanted questions about their sexuality in a learning environment and six times as likely to be harassed in such a manner in a students’ union.
Being LBT in these environments also 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”.
Financial Control, Estrangement
LBT respondents were nearly twice as likely to experience the threatening of the withholding of “financial support that you need to be a student using threats or violence”.
With some noting that this was done deliberately as a result of the respondent’s sexuality.

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

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

6. Sexual Assault
LBT women were more likely to have mental and physical health affected as heterosexual, non trans respondents who also experienced sexual violence.
Work, studies and relationships are all affected as a result of sexual violence with over double the number of LBT female students reporting an impact on their financial well-being. One respondent shares:
“dropped out & only just resumed studies years later”
Over one third of LBT respondents, 35.7 per cent, had experienced sexual violence in comparison with 22 per cent of heterosexual, non trans respondents.
LBT respondents were more likely to have experienced sexual violence in every area listed in the survey including: attempted sexual intercourse, unwanted sexual contact such as kissing, touching or molesting, sexual intercourse and 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. Sexual Assault

8. Impact of Sexual Assault on Mental and Physical Health

9. Impact of Sexual Assault on Work, Studies & Relationships

10. Physical Assault
27.2 percent of LBT student respondents had experienced physical violence. This is compared with 19.6 per cent for all heterosexual, non-trans student respondents.
While heterosexual, non-trans respondents were more likely to be the victim of “a weapon (such as a knife or gun) being used against them” 0.8 per cent as opposed to 0.3 per cent, LBT respondents experienced more physical violence in every other area.
LBT women’s mental and physical health is also disproportionately affected.
One and a half times as many LBT women students reported that the physical violence they experienced
had affected their mental health and more than three times as many reported an impact on their physical health and well being.
In addition, more than one and a half times as many LBT women reported that the physical violence had affected their relationships in comparison to heterosexual, non trans respondents.
Some reported suffering physical violence specifically because of their sexuality:
“I've felt I've had to be very careful since, when with a partner of the same sex in public (we were bottled on the street because we were holding hands). PDoA are now a little taboo.”

11. Physical Assault

12. Impact of Physical Assault on Mental and Physical Health

13. Impact of Physical Assault on Work, Studies, & Relationships

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

15. Harassment

16. Financial Control, Estrangement
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 female respondents.
Some respondents have highlighted that this was done specifically because of their sexuality:
“My parents threatened to withhold financial support because of my sexuality.”
Given the evidence that proving estrangement on the grounds of sexual orientation is already rather difficult, the issue of withholding funds based on sexuality is especially pertinent to LGBT students and needs further research. (see NUS “Evaluating Estrangement” pp )

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

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

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

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

21. Participant Profile & Response Rates
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