Third Girls' Attitudes Survey Highlights UK Girls' Views
~Girls views on happiness, global warming, alcohol, government cuts, stress, University fees, career options, volunteering, the media, family relationships~
- A third say they need a couple of drinks for courage before a night out and more than 1 in 10 think that a good night out is one where you can’t remember anything the next day.
- 69% of girls are stressed about money in 2011 compared to 48% in 2010
- 89% of girls and young women are happy most of the time with 35% who say they are very happy.
- For those who plan to leave education and training at age 18 more than one in five says that this is because they can’t afford to study (22%), up from just 8% in 2009.
- Over half (55%) of girls aged 11-21 are angry that adults have damaged the environment compared to only 38% in 2010
25th October 2011: Today Girlguiding UK launches the third Girls’ Attitudes Survey looking at the views and opinions of today’s girls and young women. New findings show that contrary to popular belief, girls and young women in the UK are generally positive and happy with their lives. However, there are significant numbers who are worried about their future and are under pressure for a variety of reasons including money, career choices, the portrayal of women, government cuts and global warming.
Dinah Faulds, Girlguiding Scotland Chief Commissioner said, “Guiding is committed to helping each and every one of our members achieve their potential and take their place as active citizens in this country. We do this in many ways, one of which is by conducting and publishing research – as we pride ourselves on giving girls and young women a voice in society.
This research highlights some important aspects of young women’s lives today and how the wider social agenda, as well as political and environmental events have a profound effect on their views. Although there are some serious concerns regarding the statistics around stress, education worries and young women and alcohol, the research also shows many positive factors that we should not overlook. Most girls and young women are happy and consider themselves healthy, many are engaged with their local communities and are keen to make a difference to the environment. It is vitally important that we all listen to what young women are telling us about their lives today and their hopes for the future.”
The Girls’ Attitudes Survey is a unique snapshot of the opinions, attitudes and experiences of girls and young women in 2010. The survey was commissioned by Girlguiding UK to explore the opinions of girls in the UK at large and was conducted with over 1,200 girls, forming a representative geographical and social sample. The organisation has not surveyed its members.
SURVEY KEY FINDINGS
Alcohol
- Among 16-21 year old girls a third (34%) say they need a couple of drinks for courage before a night out and more than 1 in 10 (12%) think that a good night out is one where you can’t remember anything the next day.
- 46% of 16-21’s worry about what they might do when they are drunk.
- 39% are concerned about their safety when drunk.
Stress
Unsurprisingly, the biggest causes of stress remain exams/tests (77%) and relationships (75%). However, stress around money and financial problems have leapt in the past year:
- Nearly half (47%) of girls build up stress by keeping their problems and worries to themselves
- 69% of girls are stressed about money in 2011 compared to 48% in 2010.
- 1 in 3 (35%) worry about their parents’ financial situation.
Lifestyle
- 89% of girls and young women are happy most of the time with 35% who say they are very happy.
- As girls get older they are less likely to be very happy 59% of 7-8 year olds dropping to only 19% of those aged over 16.
- 81% of girls think they are healthy with 25% reporting that they are very healthy.
- However, 42% of girls skip breakfast/meals and only 1 in 3 (33%) exercises everyday.
- 55% of girls aged 11-21 don’t think that girls and young women are portrayed fairly in the media compared to only 27% in 2010.
- 90% believe that TV and magazines focus too much on what women look like instead of what they do.
- Girls aged 11-21 expect to have a full time job at 21, be financially independent at 22, move in with a partner and have their own home at 23, get married at 25 and have their first child at 26.
Careers and education
- 57% believe that women have to work much harder than men to succeed
- 9 in 10 (89%) girls and young women believe that having children would affect their career with 41% expecting this to have a major impact.
- 69% of 11-21 year olds would consider putting off having children to allow them to follow their perfect career. 1 in 3 (34%) would seriously consider this. Just 1 in 5 (20%) would not let their career affect when they have children.
- Nearly two thirds (62%) of secondary school age girls are concerned about getting a job when they finish education
- One in six (16%) said that they can’t afford to study or need to get a paid job, up from 11% in 2009.
- For those who plan to leave education and training at age 18 more than one in five says that this is because they can’t afford to study (22%), up from just 8% in 2009.
Government cuts and Big Society
- Nearly half (48%) of 11-21 year olds think that the government spends on the wrong things.
- 45% think the government spending cuts are unfair and will harm vulnerable people but 29% think that cutting benefits will encourage people to take responsibility for their own lives.
- The NHS (79%), support for those with disabilities (78%) and education (73%) were the three areas that the majority of girls aged 11-21 thought there should be no cuts to.
- 55% of 11-21 year olds are involved in volunteering.
- Nearly two thirds (62%) believe that society would be better if everyone had to volunteer. Only 11% disagreed.
Global warming
- Two thirds (67%) of 7-21 year olds agree that global warming is a serious problem. Girls from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to believe that global warming is a very serious problem with 80% agreeing compared to 66% of white girls.
- The number of girls who say they are fed up with hearing about global warming has dropped from 39% in 2010 to 33% in 2011.
- Over half (55%) of girls aged 11-21 are angry that adults have damaged the environment compared to only 38% in 2010. Girls from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to be angry with about adults’ role with 66% agreeing compared to 51% of white girls.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- For more information, photos and to arrange interviews contact the Girlguiding Scotland Press Office on 0131 226 4511 or hilde@girlguiding-scot.org.uk
- The research was conducted by leading research specialists on children Childwise. Fieldwork took place during March and April 2011.
- Girls’ Attitudes is a survey of girls from across the United Kingdom aged 7-21 years on their attitudes towards key social, political and economic issues.
- The survey consisted of five categories, which girls within the guiding movement identified as the most interesting areas to question their peers on:
- Families and Relationships
- Education, Training, Skills and Careers
- Society, Culture and Community
- Environment and World Events
- Health and Wellbeing.
- The cohort was divided into three age groups: 7-11, 11-16 and 16-21 years, with an age-appropriate questionnaire devised for each. Certain common questions were also asked of all groups.
- The girls surveyed form a representative sample of girls and young women across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Booster interviews and data weighting have been employed where necessary to adjust imbalances during fieldwork.
Girlguiding Scotland is part of Girlguiding UK - the UK’s largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women, with around 530,000 members and recognised volunteers. Over a third of girls and young women (aged 7-21) in the UK are involved in guiding, or have been in the past and almost half of all the women in the UK have been involved in guiding at some stage in their lives.
We run Rainbows (5-7 years), Brownies (7-10 years), Guides (10-14 years) and Senior Section (14-25 years), enabling girls and young women to develop their potential whatever their ability or background. We are striving to offer new opportunities to a broad diversity of communities through our expanding network of over 61,000 trained volunteer Leaders.
At Girlguiding UK we seek to give girls a voice and provide a unique, girl-only space where they feel comfortable just being themselves. Our members, challenged by a girl-led programme that extends beyond badges, enjoy a spectrum of activities from international travel and outdoor adventure to pop-concerts and community action.
Girlguiding UK, part of a worldwide Movement of approximately 10 million girls and young women in 145 countries, celebrated its Centenary in 2010. Registered Charity No 306016, www.girlguiding.org.uk
