How to talk to girls about sexism and misogyny
What we're doing to tackle sexism and misogyny
We've launched a campaign to address how girls and young women experience sexism and misogyny in their everyday lives.
Every girl deserves to feel safe, respected and empowered speak up and be themselves - free from sexism and discrimination. Read our top tips for speaking about sexism and misogyny with your unit so that you can feel confident discussing this issue.
What girls are telling us
Every year we ask over 2,500 girls and young women aged 7 to 21, both inside and outside of guiding, to tell us how they feel about their everyday lives.
Our 2025 Girls’ Attitudes Survey reveals just how far girls have to go to stay safe in a world where they face misogyny, abuse and harassment – when they’re out, at school and online.
- 68% of girls and young women aged 11-21 have changed their behaviour to avoid sexual harassment.
- 1 in 10 girls aged 11-16 (10%) have missed school to avoid sexual harassment.
- More than half of girls and young women aged 11-21 don't feel safe on public transport and 48% say they avoid going out when it's dark to keep themselves safe.
- More than 2 in 3 supported another girl who may have experienced sexism and misogyny.
Organise discussions and awareness campaigns about sexism, and create safe spaces for students to report discrimination or bullying' - Girl aged 11-16
Watch our campaign video
Girls should be able to try new things without being judged, to express themselves without being afraid, to feel safe when they're out with their friends.
How to talk about sexism and misogyny
Talking about sexism and misogyny can feel daunting, but it's one of the most important ways to support young people facing these challenges. Here are a few tips to help you start that conversation.
- Start small. You don't need all the answers - just being open to the conversation matters.
- Ask questions. Open-ended questions invite girls to explore their thoughts and share their feelings.
- Listen. Let girls describe their experiences in their own words.
- Empower girls. Help girls see how their voices can create real change.
I would have a day where we [...] talk about how sexism and misogyny affects girls mental health.’ - Girl aged 11-16
Use our new interest badges
We recently launched 72 new interest badges, including a few that help girls share their thoughts, use their voice and have a say in the issues that matter to them.
Want to do more?
Every girl deserves to feel safe, supported, and inspired to be herself. We're writing to the prime minister to ask the government to do more to tackle sexism and misogyny.
Take a look at the full open letter and add your name to support the campaign.
