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| Pressure to look perfect hits girls' confidence, say Guides | Pressure to look perfect hits girls' confidence, say Guides |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Girls in the UK are markedly less confident about their looks than they were five years ago, research by Girlguiding suggests. | Girls in the UK are markedly less confident about their looks than they were five years ago, research by Girlguiding suggests. |
| Just 61% of 1,627 seven- to 21-year-old girls polled for the 2016 Girls' Attitudes Survey felt happy about their bodies, down from 73% in 2011. | Just 61% of 1,627 seven- to 21-year-old girls polled for the 2016 Girls' Attitudes Survey felt happy about their bodies, down from 73% in 2011. |
| Girls as young as seven face "intense and unobtainable appearance pressures to be perfect", say the authors. | Girls as young as seven face "intense and unobtainable appearance pressures to be perfect", say the authors. |
| Girlguiding director Becky Hewitt called the impact "shocking". | Girlguiding director Becky Hewitt called the impact "shocking". |
| "Girls have told us to stop judging them on how they look," she said. | "Girls have told us to stop judging them on how they look," she said. |
| "Every day in guiding, girls inspire us with their bravery, sense of adventure and their kindness. | "Every day in guiding, girls inspire us with their bravery, sense of adventure and their kindness. |
| "We are calling on everyone to show girls that they are valued for who they are - not what they look like," said Ms Hewitt. | "We are calling on everyone to show girls that they are valued for who they are - not what they look like," said Ms Hewitt. |
| Among the 559 seven- to 10-year-olds who took part in the survey: | Among the 559 seven- to 10-year-olds who took part in the survey: |
| And these feelings were far more prevalent among the more than 1,000 11- to 21-year-olds who took part: | And these feelings were far more prevalent among the more than 1,000 11- to 21-year-olds who took part: |
| Girls told the researchers lack of body confidence not only stopped them wearing certain clothes and having their pictures taken - but also prevented them exercising, speaking up in class and socialising. | Girls told the researchers lack of body confidence not only stopped them wearing certain clothes and having their pictures taken - but also prevented them exercising, speaking up in class and socialising. |
| "I think more girls are judged on their appearance than boys," 10-year-old Lyra told the researchers. | "I think more girls are judged on their appearance than boys," 10-year-old Lyra told the researchers. |
| "I don't think it's fair that men get treated differently to women. | "I don't think it's fair that men get treated differently to women. |
| "You have to treat everyone the same." | "You have to treat everyone the same." |
| Another of the younger participants called for an end to girls being judged on their bodies and being made to "feel bad about themselves". | Another of the younger participants called for an end to girls being judged on their bodies and being made to "feel bad about themselves". |
| While Liddy Buswell, a Brownie leader aged 18, said she had experienced some of the issues first hand. | While Liddy Buswell, a Brownie leader aged 18, said she had experienced some of the issues first hand. |
| "I've witnessed girls unwilling to speak to groups because of how they look, I've heard girls saying they've been called names at school and aren't confident trying new activities as a result," she said. | "I've witnessed girls unwilling to speak to groups because of how they look, I've heard girls saying they've been called names at school and aren't confident trying new activities as a result," she said. |
| "No girl should have to worry about the way she looks. | "No girl should have to worry about the way she looks. |
| "This year's survey is a damning indication that something needs to be done to tackle this growing issue." | "This year's survey is a damning indication that something needs to be done to tackle this growing issue." |
| Girlguiding has launched a social media challenge to the public to compliment the young women and girls they know on their achievements and personal qualities rather than their looks, using the hashtags #youareamazing and #girlsattitudes on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. | Girlguiding has launched a social media challenge to the public to compliment the young women and girls they know on their achievements and personal qualities rather than their looks, using the hashtags #youareamazing and #girlsattitudes on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. |
| Dr Carole Easton, chief executive of the Young Women's Trust, which recently published research suggesting high levels of anxiety and despair among young women, agreed more needed to be done to tackle gender stereotypes, starting from childhood. | Dr Carole Easton, chief executive of the Young Women's Trust, which recently published research suggesting high levels of anxiety and despair among young women, agreed more needed to be done to tackle gender stereotypes, starting from childhood. |
| "Otherwise we will continue to see lower levels of wellbeing, lower confidence and greater worries about the future amongst young women," she said. | "Otherwise we will continue to see lower levels of wellbeing, lower confidence and greater worries about the future amongst young women," she said. |
| A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said: "No girl should be held back in life just because of her gender. | |
| "Body image can be a distressing issue and that's why we are supporting schools to discuss this with their pupils, so they can learn to respect themselves and others." | |
| The survey was carried out for Girlguiding by Childwise between March and May this year. | The survey was carried out for Girlguiding by Childwise between March and May this year. |
| The girls and women who took part were a representative sample from across the UK, not restricted to those involved in guiding. | The girls and women who took part were a representative sample from across the UK, not restricted to those involved in guiding. |
| Have you been affected by any of the issues raised in this story? What are your views on body confidence? You can share your comments and experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by any of the issues raised in this story? What are your views on body confidence? You can share your comments and experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |