Girls’ Attitudes Survey results
For the past 11 years, we’ve asked girls and young women, both inside Girlguiding and out, what they think about a wide range of issues. Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey is an opportunity for girls to get their voices heard, and to influence decision makers. This year, we heard from more than 2,000 girls and women across the UK, aged between 7 and 21 years old, who told us what they’re really thinking.
88% of girls say it’s urgent that we do more to protect the environment
More than ever before, girls are conscious of their own impact on the environment, and nearly everyone surveyed is willing to take action – recycling and reusing, using less energy by switching off lights or wearing an extra jumper, and eating less or no meat. They also feel that governments and corporations should take more responsibility, and that this is where real change is needed – in fact, 49% of girls think the government should be responsible for tackling environmental issues.
Read about our #PlasticPromise campaign for more on what we’re doing to find solutions
86% of girls and young women want to be involved in environmental decision-making
Words matter as well as actions – nearly nine in ten girls aged 7 to 21 want to be involved in school plans and in conversations with decision makers to tackle environmental issues.
‘There’s too much exam pressure,’ say nearly two-thirds of girls and young women
64% of 11 to 21-year-olds think there’s too much focus on doing well, and only 21% say they’re getting the help they need to manage exam stress.
A quarter of girls don’t feel safe to go outdoors
Almost half of 7 to 10-year-olds don’t have access to a playground and two in three 11 to 21-year-olds can’t easily find an outdoor sports facility that feels safe to use.
‘Being on social media makes us happy,’ say 30% of girls
Girls are aware of how online content can have a negative effect on them. One in three have seen upsetting or harmful images or videos they wish they hadn’t. But there are positives too – a third of girls aged 11 to 16 say that being on social media makes them feel happy.
‘We’d like to spend less time online,’ say four in ten girls
45% of girls and young women aged between 11 and 21 feel they need to check their phone first thing in the morning and last thing at night, and 40% say they’d like to take a break.
‘We’re being judged too harshly’
Half of 11 to 16-year-olds feel that women leaders are criticised more than men, and a third think women are judged more harshly when they make mistakes.
79% of girls aged 7-21 have experienced bullying
Name calling, being left out, or having your appearance commented on are the main forms of bullying that girls experience. Two in three 11 to 21-year-olds said it made them feel hopeless and less confident. A fifth of girls say bullying stops them from feeling like they can go out on their own.
‘Trust is an important part of friendship’
46% of girls aged 7-10 say that a good friend is someone they can trust, and a quarter say they think finding someone who stands up for them and supports them is key.
Find out more
To read more about the findings, and to find out ways that girls can explore the issues through Future Girl and our programme, visit girlguiding.org.uk/girlsattitudes
If you’d like a copy of the report, please email girlsattitudes@girlguiding.org.uk
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