Plan International’s Post

It has been a while now, but the words of the girls who fed into this research are still seared into my brain. I read the 3,000 survey responses they completed, and when I read the report today I still remembered their words: Girls feel under pressure: "It’s difficult in whatever you do. There’s not a day I don’t think about my body or money or the future. Would like a day when I’m not thinking about everything" "I feel like growing up as a woman in this society is a lot harder because we have lots more pressure on us to look a certain way and to act a certain way and it’s not very good for our mental health if we’re thinking like that…Knowing... that I’ll often be held to a higher standard". Girls feel unsafe: “I have been harassed, stalked and sexually assaulted, and emotionally abused by multiple men in my life and I’m only 21 years of age. As a young woman you end up just accepting that it’s part of being a woman" "I feel unsafe wherever I go, I’ve been sexually harassed a lot. Like, A LOT. Yet no one does anything other than ‘boys will be boys’, ‘just ignore them’ etc". And they are worried about things they shouldn't have to worry about: "Financial situation is also a factor as to why I’m only somewhat happy. I’m constantly worried about money, and I don’t have the means to enjoy my life as much as I would like" "I am so worried about getting a full-time job as there are not many. I need to start paying my mum as all the money she gets for me has stopped. She works hard and I can see the struggle she sometimes has keeping us, now everything has doubled in price. She doesn’t put pressure on me, but it feels like a pressure to get something work-wise" And they don't feel listened to "I wish girls were more listened to and valued in our society" "Girls are not listened to as much as they should, which means we underestimate ourselves" But they definitely get it: “I feel that - from my experience - the hardships of being a woman remain not in direct objective sexism but in the deep-rooted social attitudes. Which is why it is such a difficult thing to tackle and why in some ways I am afraid to speak up; I don’t want to be disliked" And they have LOTS to say about how things need to change. We hear you. Such an absolute privilege to have worked on this with the wonderful Dr. Suzy Solley, and the wonderful team at Plan International UK, and so grateful to all the girls who shared the experiences and views. Time for action now.

A more peaceful world begins with gender equality in and through education. Young feminists are at the forefront of driving gender transformative education which brings about more just, equal and peaceful societies. They can’t drive the change without resources and that’s why today we are sharing #EducationShiftsPower. Learn more ⇾ https://ow.ly/nO0450QtLCW #InternationalDayOfEducation

Leading the Scotland scoping research for this report was an excellent experience! Thanks to UK scoping lead the brilliant Victoria Cann, Danielle Mackle Nikki Giant + the late Catherine Phillips Thomas who we all miss so much. Thanks to the girls all over the UK who contributed to make this work possible. 📣A must read for all working to address inequalities for girls and young women - The State of Girls’ Rights in the UK 2024. Some key points from the research: 📉Girls are not experiencing the progress on gender equality they were promised. 🗺️It remains tough to be a girl wherever you live. But as this report shows, geography still matters, and some places are even tougher than others. ‼️This research shows that girls don’t feel safe, in public or online, and face relentless pressure to look and act a certain way. 🔮Girls feel unprepared by their education, worried for future job prospects and scared by a rising culture of misogyny.

🚨 New Report Alert: Plan International UK's The State of Girls' Rights in the UK 2024 🚨 The recently released report on The State of Girls' Rights in the UK 2024 highlights critical issues affecting girls and young women today - all of which we tackle in our work, programmes and festivals with young people. From safety concerns and economic challenges to persistent gender norms and educational inequalities, the findings underscore the urgent need for action, with nearly half of girls feeling societal expectations hold them back, only 5% feeling completely safe in public spaces and persistent inequalities in health, education, and employment. This report arrives on the heels of our inaugural WOW Girls Festival, which engaged over 34,000 people across the UK. Here are some of the impacts: 💥 23,221 children and young people engaged in empowering activities 💥 3,470 children and young people actively participated in the WOW Bus programme, with 61% from marginalized or disadvantaged communities 💥 95% of participants reported increased self-expression and empowerment 💥 91% felt more optimistic about making positive changes in their communities These statistics not only reflect the success of our festival but also highlight the ongoing need to support and uplift girls. The WOW Girls Festival provided safe spaces for expression, fostered creativity, and encouraged leadership and activism among young people. It was made possible by partnerships with BBC Children in Need, Standard Chartered, Mattel, Inc., Arts Council England and local partners. Now, more than ever, we need to unite to combat these challenges and create a brighter future for girls in the UK and beyond. 👉 If you or your organisation are passionate about gender equity and want to work with us to address these critical issues, please get in touch! Together, we can make a lasting impact on girls' rights and opportunities. #GirlsRights #WOWFoundation #WOWGirlsFestival #GenderEquality #YouthEmpowerment #JoinTheMovement

Such an interesting and much needed report released by Plan International UK 👉3,000 girls part of survey 👉 93% of girls and young women do not feel completely safe in public spaces. 👉 56% highlighted that they would feel safer if there was ‘education to change the attitudes and behaviour of boys and men towards women’ We are in alignment with these findings through our FREEDOM 2 Travel Safely project which explores girl’s experiences of travel in London. Sexual harassment is happening for girls on transport and in public spaces and it needs stop now! #freedom2travelsafely

Women are strategically positioned in the justice system to do the needed justice. We are out for social justice, equity, and good conscience. Soft and rugged, undaunted and daring, strategic and accurate, we shall do #justice. We are #womeninjustice. #internationalwomenjudges

It was such an honour to be involved in this incredible research project, gathering the views of girls and young women in #Wales to feed into this picture of the State of Girls' Rights across the UK. I was lucky enough to be interviewed for the very first report by Plan International UK back in 2016, and involved in the 2020 report when I was leading UK girls' rights work for Plan. Sadly, though, it seems very little has changed in the 8 years since the first report was published. These stats are hard to read, yet not hard to believe: 📢 Only 5% of girls and young women feel “completely safe” in public spaces, such as on public transport or on the street. 📢 53% of girls and young women said they were “uncertain” and 52% said they were “anxious” about their future 📢 Only two in five (40%) girls and young women are happy with their mental health, declining from 46% of 12 to 16 year olds to 35% of 17 to 21 year olds. 📢 Nearly half (46%) of respondents to our survey knew someone in their peer group who was addicted to alcohol or drugs Behind these statistics are the stories and experiences of real girls and young women, some of which I was lucky enough to work with. We must do more for and with girls. Read the full report here 📕 https://lnkd.in/e2HQFYKk

From Lincolnshire to London, girls across the UK are angry and frustrated about the state of equality and girls’ rights. But it doesn't have to be this way. Girls want to be part of creating change and have their voices heard. It’s time for us all to do more and demand better. Together with girls, we can achieve gender equality for this generation. Read our latest report about the State of Girls' Rights ➡️ https://bit.ly/4bU8MHD

It was such an honour to be involved in this incredible research project, gathering the views of girls and young women in #Wales to feed into this picture of the State of Girls' Rights across the UK. I was lucky enough to be interviewed for the very first report by Plan International UK back in 2016, and involved in the 2020 report when I was leading UK girls' rights work for Plan. Sadly, though, it seems very little has changed in the 8 years since the first report was published. These stats are hard to read, yet not hard to believe: 📢 Only 5% of girls and young women feel “completely safe” in public spaces, such as on public transport or on the street. 📢 53% of girls and young women said they were “uncertain” and 52% said they were “anxious” about their future 📢 Only two in five (40%) girls and young women are happy with their mental health, declining from 46% of 12 to 16 year olds to 35% of 17 to 21 year olds. 📢 Nearly half (46%) of respondents to our survey knew someone in their peer group who was addicted to alcohol or drugs Behind these statistics are the stories and experiences of real girls and young women, some of which I was lucky enough to work with. We must do more for and with girls. Read the full report here 📕 https://lnkd.in/e2HQFYKk

Today we launch our State of Girls' Rights report, where we uncover just how tough it is to be a girl in the UK. Girls are telling us loud and clear that they aren’t experiencing the progress on gender equality they’ve been promised. And that the future doesn’t look any better. They don’t feel safe, in public or online, and face relentless pressure to look and act a certain way. They feel unprepared by their education, worried for future job prospects and scared by a rising culture of misogyny. Growing up in a cost-of-living crisis and a climate emergency, girls feel uncertain and anxious about their own future and the future of the world. It doesn't have to be this way. Girls are telling us, loud and clear, that they want to be part of creating change. We must listen. Together with girls we can achieve gender equality for this generation.