On Monday evening we went to a GirlGuiding meeting. We didn’t don our woggles, nor did we build a campfire. Instead we enjoyed canapes (not campfire roasted marshmallows) and listened to Baroness Heyhoe Flint and Jo Swinson MP among others give inspiring speeches at Girlguiding’s launch of their fifth Girls’ Attitude Survey.
The Girl Guides has changed a lot since our day, and with Julie Bentley as their chief executive the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides have been provided with a strong voice and a listening ear.
The results of the Girls’ Attitude Survey this year continues to display troubling issues with body image, self-esteem, relationships and everyday sexism that the girls who took part face on a daily basis. In spite of the results of the survey, the evening was incredibly uplifting.
Three Girlguiding Advocates, aged from 17 to 23 told us about the survey and how they and their peers felt about sexism in their lives. One advocate told us of how, in spite of having a computing degree, she is habitually led to the “pink computer” when shopping for a new laptop.
60% of the girls aged 16 to 21 questioned said they had felt patronised or made to feel stupid because of their sex. 70% of girls aged between 13 and 21 reported experiences of sexual harassment at school or college. 87% of girls aged from seven to 21 think women are judged more for their looks than ability.
Career-wise 56% of 16 to 21 year olds worry that having children will affect their career negatively. However 55% of seven to 21 year olds want to be a leader in their chosen job and 63% of 11 to 21 year olds polled said more female leaders would make a better deal for women.
What we learned at the Girlguiding evening was that we have a new generation of young women who are engaged with the world and want the world to engage with them. We were happy to support and be a part of the Girls’ Attitudes survey launch as it gave us such confidence in today’s young women.
Another fantastic thing we learned on the evening was that you’re never too old to be a Girl Guide! We met a member of the Trefoil Guild, an organisation of women who wish to keep the Guide law, carry on meeting and supporting new Guide leaders and Guides. We met a member in her 80s who was still going strong.
With campaigns focused on giving girls a voice and inspiring women we’re confident that Girlguiding is here to stay.
Pictured: Jo Swinson MP and Baroness Heyhoe Flint
