Girlguiding UK is calling on legislators and the media to do more to champion positive female role-models (Ogan-paig, Flickr)

Broadcast on 27th Nov 2013 on VoR.

Charity Girlguiding UK warns that sexism is still rife for many children and young women, with many reporting they feel under pressure to conform to stereotypical images of femininity.

It follows a new study which says that half of girls are victims of sexual taunts and a quarter – have been touched inappropriately. The charity is calling on the government to do more to better tackle gender inequality, especially in schools.

Nima Green reports for VoR.

Growing up is hard for many young people, but for girls it seems, this is being made tougher by wide-spread sexism in their every-day lives.

Girlguiding UK polled nearly 1,300 girls aged 11-21, and three quarters of them said that they encounter sexism so regularly it affects ‘most areas’ of their lives.

And for some this includes sexual harassment and unwanted sexual advances.

Many girls also feared that their opportunities in life are limited due to their gender with 87 percent of girls believing they are judged more for their appearance than their abilities.

Ellie Dibben is a 17-year-old advocate for Girlguiding UK. She says that she and her peers are bombarded with unattainable images to aspire to.

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