‘If I were a boy, I’d put myself first and make the rules as I go.’
(If I Were a Boy – Beyonce, 2008)
The Girl Guides Association published their annual report, ‘Girls’ Attitudes Survey’ earlier this year. The survey asks 2,000 girls aged 7 to 21 years, how they feel about their everyday lives. Statistics within these reports are concerning. For example, the number of girls who describe themselves as ‘very happy’ has steadily declined. The greatest decline being in girls aged 7-10 years, from 57% in 2009 to 28% in 2023.
The Survey lists the challenges girls face today as including: –
- Being judged on appearance.
The age at which girls feel they are judged on their physical appearance has dropped. Young girls are spending increasing amounts of money on beauty products with 50% of 7–11-year-olds using make-up. A third of the girls interviewed said that they would consider plastic surgery to improve their appearance, with 68% saying they’d like to lose weight and 53% having been on a diet.
Schools are among the many organisations in society that view the behaviour of male and female pupils in different ways. For example, school uniform can be a minefield for female pupils, with regular warnings given about skirts that are too short or leggings that are too tight. Girls are told to dress modestly in order to avoid distracting male teachers, pupils or indeed, members of the public on their way to and from school.
- Sexual harassment.
The Association’s report quoted 59% of schoolgirls as saying that they worry about being sexually harassed in public or at school. 44% of the girls said that boys at their school had made sexist comments that made them concerned for their safety.
- Media and online abuse.
Almost all schoolgirls reported experiencing some form of threatening or upsetting behaviour on-line. A quarter of girls aged 7-10 had experienced on-line bullying, with a fifth saying that on-line comments had been made about their physical appearance.
The solutions required appear obvious. For example: accepting girls for who they are, rather than how they look; taking girls’ concerns about sexism in school seriously, and monitoring social media for abusive behaviour. Men have to accept that a more equal society will involve the loss of male advantage. Women should set an example to girls by being competent rather than helpful and nice, and ambitious for themselves, as well as their partners and children. Perhaps, increased discussion around gender self-identification will assist. If society moves from rigid male / female stereotypes and a clear-cut black / white division between men and women, towards an acceptance of a broader gender spectrum, some of young girls’ current concerns may be ameliorated.
Pat Guy Education Specialist & Author 