87% of girls aged 11-21 think women are judged on appearance over ability
The organisation’s ‘Equality For Girls’ report surveyed more than 1,200 girls and young women aged 7 to 21, and have called their findings ‘a disturbing insight into the state of equality for girls in the UK.’
What’s even more shocking is that most of the 13-year-olds questioned said they had experienced sexual harassment.
28% of those aged between 13-21 had experienced unwanted touching and sexual attention, with 26% experiencing unwanted attention and stalking.
A further 51% revealed they’d been objected to sexual jokes and taunts, and more than three-quarters said they found this behaviour threatening if they were by themselves.
54% of girls aged 11 to 21 have experienced abuse online.
Girlguiding UK say that their report demonstrates that sexism still affects ‘most aspects’ of the daily lives of young girls.
60% of the 16 to 21-year-olds surveyed said they’ve felt ‘patronised or made to feel stupid’ because they’re female.
Girls believe that motherhood still disadvantages women in the workplace, and almost half of those aged 11 to 21 worry that having children will negatively affect their career (46%). A similar number think that employers at least to some extent prefer to employ men over women (43%). Half worry about the pay gap between men and women (50%), rising to 60% among 16- to 21-year-olds.
The levels of criticism female celebrities and women in the public eye in the media has also affected young women’s aspirations to be in similar positions one day. 43% say the way women are criticised for how they look on TV has put them off every wanting to be in a position where they’d appear on TV themselves.
66% of 11 to 21-year-olds think they’re aren’t enough women in leadership positions in the UK. However, many of the girls surveyed said that the lack of women in leadership positions made them more determined to succeed.