Girlguiding responds to Daily Mail front page

Girlguiding's Advocate panel respond to the front page of the Daily Mail today

The page features a picture of Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon alongside the headline 'Never mind Brexit, who won Legs-it!'.

Advocate Liddy Buswell shares her thoughts :

'As a young woman, I was really shocked and disgusted to see the Daily Mail front page reducing two highly successful women to their body parts this morning.

'Regardless of your political opinions, Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon are two of the most influential politicians in the UK and judging them like this sends out the message that women and girls’ voices don’t matter. It certainly makes me feel apprehensive about embarking on a career in politics if my looks are going to be considered the most important thing about me!

'And I’m not alone. Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey 2016 shows that 52% of 11-21 year olds say seeing gender stereotypes makes them feel they might be held back in life because they are a girl. Further, 61% of girls aged 13-21 say it makes them feel disempowered when women are seen as sex objects.

'This toxic media sexism is holding girls back from achieving their potential. Girlguiding works to tackle this and empower girls and young women through initiatives such as Camp CEO, our Advocate panel and our British Youth Council delegation which gives girls a voice and a platform to be heard.'

 - Liddy Buswell, 19, is member of Girlguiding's Advocate panel which consists of 18 Girlguiding members aged 14 to 25 from across the UK. They meet throughout the year to talk about issues that are important to them, such as body confidence, representation of girls and women in the media, access to better sex and relationships education and role models for girls.