Emily Atack Backs Teen Campaign to Ban School Uniforms in Pornography
The actress, who found fame in "The Inbetweeners," has publicly supported a youth-led initiative aimed at closing a loophole in laws against child exploitation material.
Actress Emily Atack has lent her support to a national campaign spearheaded by a group of teenage girls seeking to ban the use of school uniforms in pornography. The initiative, initiated by students at The Cooper School in Bicester, targets a legal loophole that allows actors over 16 to wear school uniforms in adult media.
The current UK Crime and Policing Act, effective in November, prohibits pornographic material depicting adults posing as children under 16. However, the students argue that because secondary school and sixth-form students wear uniforms until age 18, this law does not cover scenarios involving actors who are underage but dressed in school attire.
Atack, 36, who gained recognition for her role as Charlotte Hinchcliffe in "The Inbetweeners," shared a video from BBC News about the campaign on her Instagram Stories, adding the caption "With you all." Her character in the show, often referred to as 'Charlotte Big Jugs,' was heavily sexualized, a role Atack has previously stated contributed to her own online sexualization and typecasting.
In a 2023 documentary titled "Asking For It," Atack detailed the sexual harassment she experienced on social media, suggesting her early television roles played a part in how she was perceived and targeted online. She expressed feelings of embarrassment and anger, stating she felt she had "allowed it" to escalate.
The teenagers' campaign has gained significant traction, surpassing 40,000 signatures on Change.org. It has received backing from Durham University law professor Clare McGlynn, who emphasized the problematic nature of using school uniforms in mainstream pornography. McGlynn noted that the "teen pornography" genre is a substantial category within pornography and is often linked to more aggressive content. She highlighted that a portrayal of someone as "17 and in school uniform" is not adequately covered by existing legislation, and that such portrayals are intended to depict young girls.
UK Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones has also commended the students for their efforts in speaking out against the sexualization of young girls. The campaign aims to raise national awareness about the issues surrounding the use of school uniforms in adult media. Earlier this year, Atack debuted a new bob haircut, sharing the change on social media following a salon visit.
