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25 October 2011

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 one in ten 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 - in fact, a remarkable 35% say they are very happy.
• For those who plan to leave education and training at age 18, more than one in five (22%) say that this is because they can’t afford to study, 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

25^th 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.

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.

Gill Slocombe, Chief Guide of Girlguiding UK said, 'It is very clear from this year’s Girls Attitudes Survey that girls and young women in the UK have plenty to say. The wider social agenda and as well as political and environmental events have had a profound effect on their views, which shows that we should not underestimate just how sensitive they are to the world around them.

Whilst there are some stark statistics around stress, education worries, the media portrayal of women and alcohol that should serve as a wake up call to how our young women are feeling, there are many positive factors that should not be overlooked. 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. The crucial point of this survey is that we all listen to what the next generation is telling us about their lives today and hopes for the future. They are positive and hopeful whilst deeply aware that they are becoming a lost generation who want to grab hold of the opportunities that are fast slipping from their reach.'

 

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 one in ten (12%) think that a good night out is one where you can’t remember anything the next day.
• 46% of 16-21s 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, copies of the reports or to arrange interviews with Girlguiding UK spokespeople please contact the Girlguiding UK Press Office on 020 7592 1733 or pressoffice@girlguiding.org.uk

An infographic outlining some key statistics is available from the Girlguiding UK Press Office

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 UK is 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. 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.