Who can help? Girls Out Loud

In order to put ourselves in the shoes of the girls we are trying to represent, we are speaking to two different help services. these organisations are specifically tailored to help young people including teenage girls through the pressures of life.

Girls Out Loud is a big sister programme that offers teenage girls trusted guide to help them through the challenges of growing up and empower them to channel they potential and make better life choices.

They are a UK based enterprise set up in 2009 who's mission is to raise the aspirations of young girls between the ages of 13-18. They facilitate intervention programmes in schools and have launched a nationwide mentoring programme called BIG SISTER which involves recruiting and training role models from a diverse background to mentor teenage girls for 12 months. They aim to embed a more empowering mindset in girls to reconnect them to education, help them achieve exam success, broaden their aspirations, encourage them to find an individual voice, take risks, make better life decisions, improve their self image and become role models for future generations.

(http://girlsoutloud.org.uk)

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Or visit their website: http://girlsoutloud.org.uk

The Statistics

Upon researching our topic, we have learnt a lot about the pressures that teenage girls face. Here are the main facts and statistics:

“Most damningly girls feel that adults are out of touch with new threats to their wellbeing - leaving them struggling to find the adequate support and information they need to remain resilient in the face of increasing pressures. 82 per cent of girls aged 11 to 21 say adults don't recognise the pressure they are under. But despite the challenges taking a negative toll on their lives - girls remain hopeful and determined to change the world for young women.”

(http://new.girlguiding.org.uk/latest-updates/making-a-difference/girls-attitudes-survey-2015)

General Facts:

Girls' mental well-being worries start from as young as seven – escalating as they get older with two in five girls aged 11 to 21 needing to seek help with mental health concerns.

62 per cent of girls aged 11 to 21 know a girl their age who has experienced a mental health problem, while almost half of girls aged 17 to 21 (46 per cent) have personally needed help with their mental health.

82% of girls and young women aged 11-21 feel that adults don’t recognise the pressures that young people are under. (http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/pdf/GAS_15_website.pdf)

81% of girls and young women aged 11 to 21 reportthat in the past week they have experienced or observed some form of everyday sexism. (http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/pdf/GAS_15_website.pdf)

The top wish among all teen girls is for their parents to communicate better with them. This includes frequent and more open conversations.

Body Image

What is body image?

This can include a person’s thoughts and feelings about their weight, shape, skin colour, size, height and their appearance more broadly. The development of body image is complex and research demonstrates that it can be shaped by an individual’s mind-set and biology, as well as the influence of peer groups, family, media, and the society and culture in which we live. Two people could look identical but have a very different body image as a result of these influences.

http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/861233/appg_body_image_final.pdf

7 in 10 girls believe that they are not good enough or don’t measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with friends and family members. (https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-teens-and-self-esteem)

Among high school students, 44% of girls and 15% of guys are attempting to lose weight.  (https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-teens-and-self-esteem)

Over 70% of girls age 15 to 17 avoid normal daily activities, such as attending school, when they feel bad about their looks. (https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-teens-and-self-esteem)

Over 80% of 10 year old girls are afraid of being fat.

One in three girls would consider cosmetic surgery. - Girl Guiding UK, Girls Attitude Survey 2010

More than 90 percent of girls – 15 to 17 years – want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance, with body weight ranking the highest. -Girl Guiding UK, Girls Attitude Survey 2010

42% of girls and young women feel that the most negative part about being a female is the pressure to look attractive. - Girl Guiding UK, Girls Attitude Survey 2010

42% of girls and young women feel that the most negative part about being a female is the pressure to look attractive.

One in four 7 year old girls have tried to lose weight at least once.

90% of girls and young women believe that TV and magazines focus too much on what women look like rather than what they achieve - GirlGuiding UK

Education

Seven in ten girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with friends and family members. (http://www.isacs.org/misc_files/SelfEsteem_Report%20-%20Dove%20Campaign%20for%20Real%20Beauty.pdf)

70% of girls aged 7 to 12 agree that boys and girls do have equal chances in life.

Sexuality:

Recent surveys of teenage girls and young women find that roughly 15% of young females today self-identify as lesbian or bisexual, compared with about 5% of young males who identify as gay or bisexual. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sax-sex/201004/why-are-so-many-girls-lesbian-or-bisexual)

According to the International AIDS Charity, Avert, studies have shown that the average age gay and lesbian young people begin the process of coming out is now 16, compared to the 1980's when it was between 19 and 23. (http://www.webmd.boots.com/sex-relationships/features/coming-out-teenage-sexual-orientation?page=3)

These are a number of the issues we will be addressing during our documentary. Follow us on twitter @prettypressures or like our Facebook page Facebook.com/prettylittlepressures for more information!