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The Girls' Attitudes Survey is an annual survey conducted in the United Kingdom by Girlguiding UK and ChildWise, it was first conducted in 2009.[1] The survey studies the views and opinions of girls aged 7-21 across the UK.[2] The research is representative of girls from across the UK and Northern Ireland, and is not limited to Girlguiding UK members.[3][4]
Format
editThe survey divides the 7-21 age demographic into three age groups: 7-11; 11-16, and 16-21. Each age group has its own age-appropriate questionnaire with core questions being asked across the full age range, so that changes in attitudes as girls grow older can be tracked. The questionnaires for all age groups focus on five broad themes:[3]
- family and relationships
- society, culture and community
- health and well-being
- education, training, skills and careers
- environment
History
edit2009 Survey
editThe first Girls' Attitudes Survey was conducted in 2009, it was the first national UK survey into the thoughts and opinions of girls aged 7-21.[5] 1,109 girls and young women were polled in the 2009 survey.[5]
The majority of interviews were completed online, with 7-16 year olds doing this in school, whilst the older age group were interviewed via an online panel. Additional face-to-face interviews were carried out with young women who were not in education, employment, or training, to ensure that this potentially marginalised group was fully represented.
Findings
edit50% of 16-21 year-olds said they would consider having surgery to change the way they look. The most popular option of those presented was cosmetic surgery, with a quarter of girls (24%) prepared to consider it and one in ten would consider weight loss surgery,[6] while one in eight of 11-16 year-olds would consider having either a gastric band or cosmetic surgery and 5% said they would consider having botox.[7]
Stress is the number one health risk that most girls in the 11-21 year-old age range claimed to have experienced, with the percentage amongst girls from non white ethnic backgrounds being significantly above that of the wider sample. Three in five girls aged 11-16 (59%) and 75% of 16-21 year-olds said they had suffered from severe stress at some point in their lives.[8]
Peer pressure was identified by the girls as one of the factors behind unhealthy behaviours: 31% of girls aged 11-16 claimed to feel pressure from friends to do things they wouldn’t normally do. A lack of support was identified as being an issue for 40% of girls 11-21 who feel they receive sufficient support and advice on these issues.[8]
Girls are in favour of greater use of punitive financial measures to protect the environment: 69% of 16-21 year-old girls are in favour of ‘green taxes’ on SUV’s and bigger cars; 68% support the imposing of fines on those who fail to recycle; and 55% are in favour of limited carbon allowances.[9]
Nearly half (49%) of girls aged 7-11 years-old are concerned about being bullied and 47% are worried about falling out with friends. From the age of 11, exams become the most stressful thing about school and a cause of worry for over two-thirds of girls.[10]
Response
editBased on the findings from the 2009 survey, Girlguiding UK launched its first-ever petition, calling for compulsory labelling to distinguish between airbrushed and natural images.[11] The petition received over 25,000 signatures in three months. The campaign was backed by Members of Parliament Lynne Featherstone and Jo Swinson[6][12] and the eating disorders charity Beat.[11]
2010 Survey
editFindings
editResponse
editReferences
edit- ^ "Girls' Attitudes Survey 2009". Girlguiding UK. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ^ "Girls' Attitudes Survey 2010". Girlguiding UK. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Girls' Attitudes: What girls think about...: An Overview" (PDF). Girls' Attitudes Survey 2010. Girlguiding UK. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ Rollins, Grant (06 September 2010). "Worst part of being a girl is the pressure to look sexy". The Sun. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Cockcroft, Lucy (03/11/2009). "Girls of today are 'stressed, drunk and discriminated against', report finds". Telegraph. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Sinclair, Lulu (04/08/2010). "Girl Guides Call For Airbrush Label Rules". Sky News. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Cosmetic surgery: Guides aim to discourage girls". BBC News. 03 March 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Girls' Attitudes - What girls think about...: Health and Wellbeing" (PDF). Girls' Attitude Survey 2009. Girlguiding UK. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "Girls' Attitudes - What girls think about...: The Environment" (PDF). Girls' Attitues Survey 2009. Girlguiding UK. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "Girls' Attitudes - What girls think...:Ed" (PDF). Girls' Attitudes Survey 2009. Girlguiding UK. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ a b Cassidy, Beth. "Girlguiding UK launches petition against airbrushed images". Children & Young People Now. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
- ^ Featherstone, Lynne. "Body Confidence – Girl Guides". Lynne's Parliament and Haringey Diary, established 2003. MP LynneFeatherstone. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
External links
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