Interview with Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone

Two Girlguiding members have had the opportunity to ask Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone questions about issues affecting young people today, such as airbrushing, being heard and abusive teenage relationships.

Ms Featherstone was grilled by Gemma Hallatt and Jess Carmichael, who are part of the Association’s youth Advocate! panel – which allows young women to have their say within guiding and across the nation on issues that are important to them. In the interview, published in the latest issue of guiding magazine, they asked how she became involved in campaigning about body image.

She said, 'Body image became a real issue for me when my daughter said that I should be doing something about it – now I’m a minister I’m in a position to do so. I want everyone to have conversations about this issue. Surveys – including Girlguiding’s – show how many people are affected by negative body image.'

Ms Featherstone is a supporter of Girlguiding's Girls' Attitudes Survey, which asks girls and young women their opinions on a variety of issues, and last year participated in a roundtable event alongside young members, MPs, charity representatives and think-tanks.   

Click here to view part one of the Lynne Featherstone feature.

Click here to view part two of the article.