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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To argue that this should is not a suitable topic for the Girl Guides

999 replies

MovedByFanciesThatAreCurled · 31/10/2021 07:58

Girlguiding is for girls, aged 10-14. So why then do they feel the need to promote this on their social media?

This week is #AceWeek - a time to raise awareness and understanding of the asexual community. So here’s a shout-out to all of our asexual volunteers and members – thank you for everything you do in Girlguiding.

The reference to ‘members’ is quite clear. What on earth were they thinking in making reference to young girls’ sex lives (or lack of them according to the focus of the Tweet). How, as an organisation, have they strayed so far? I have two boys in the Scouts/Beavers and if this came up on either of their social media pages I would pull them out. Why is it seen to be an acceptable for Girlguiding?!!

OP posts:
Pinkfairylights · 31/10/2021 08:00

YANBU

Original poster
MovedByFanciesThatAreCurled · 31/10/2021 08:00

Apologies for the typo in the title. Annoying.

OP posts:
BelleOfTheProvince · 31/10/2021 08:04

Guiding left safeguarding behind a long time ago. Now they can put a boy(in the traditional sense, bepenised) in your girl's tent without informing you (or even your daughter).
So glad I stopped being a leader years ago. Sadly when the fallout comes and it will come, the leaders on the ground will be blamed when I'm fact the insane anti safeguarding policies will be at fault.

Catawaul · 31/10/2021 08:07

How revolting, why would young girls want to know about this?

Original poster
MovedByFanciesThatAreCurled · 31/10/2021 08:07

I am just flabbergasted. Where is this coming from?! I sent my boys to Scouts/Beavers to learn practical, team work skills (as well as many other things they can’t find in any other activity) and would send my girls to Guiding for the same thing. Do people know about this? How long before they start having workshops/seminars at sleepovers to discuss this kind of stuff? Bonkers. Get them climbing trees

OP posts:
Lockheart · 31/10/2021 08:07

It's important that girls (and boys) going through puberty and starting to develop sexual attraction or not know that whatever their orientation - gay, straight, bisexual, asexual - they're normal and it's accepted.

Lockheart · 31/10/2021 08:08

@Catawaul

How revolting, why would young girls want to know about this?
Because maybe some young girls going through puberty are confused and scared about their sexual orientation and don't know if they're "normal" or not?
NoSquirrels · 31/10/2021 08:09

Girlguiding is for girls, aged 10-14

GirlGuiding encompasses all the age groups, from Rainbows through Briownies and Guides, then Rangers (14-18) and then there are the adult members - there’s membership for 18-30 and then the leaders etc.

So - I’m not sure your premise that ‘members = 10-14 year old girls solely’ is at all accurate.

Sexuality is a topic that will come up during teen years and Guiding has always been big on celebrating diversity in its membership. Would celebrating Pride month be a problem - celebrating same-sex female relationships?

I’ve got my own issues with the way they’ve handled gender and made it a single gender not single sex organisation by stealth.

But I can’t get worried about this one.

ufucoffee · 31/10/2021 08:09

It's ridiculous. They should stick to girl guiding and get off the woke train.

BelleOfTheProvince · 31/10/2021 08:09

It's important for prepubescent children to know a lack of desire is a developmental stage and doesn't make them asexual.

TwinklyBranch · 31/10/2021 08:10

I don't see the issue. It's reassurance that asexuality is normal, and that is very important for some young people to know.

TinaYouFatLard · 31/10/2021 08:11

It’s relentless.

NoSquirrels · 31/10/2021 08:12

@BelleOfTheProvince

It's important for prepubescent children to know a lack of desire is a developmental stage and doesn't make them asexual.
That’s fine.

But it’s an all-age organisation.

Do the Rangers who don’t feel desire despite puberty deserve to know that’s OK too?

BelleOfTheProvince · 31/10/2021 08:13

I'd stick with scouting for girls. They always have female leaders for female children in their camps and, from my experience in the nineties, are much less hung up on making the girls do performative femininity.

TheKeatingFive · 31/10/2021 08:13

Would celebrating Pride month be a problem - celebrating same-sex female relationships?

Exactly. I don't see what's so 'revolting' about being aware of asexuality.

mykitchenruler · 31/10/2021 08:13

YANBU

Totally inappropriate and further proof that Guiding has totally lost the plot on these issues.

Original poster
MovedByFanciesThatAreCurled · 31/10/2021 08:14

@TwinklyBranch

I don't see the issue. It's reassurance that asexuality is normal, and that is very important for some young people to know.
How on earth do you know that you are ‘asexual’ at 10. Ridiculous. At 10 most kids would be deemed ‘asexual’ - as they should be. Discussion of sex drives etc has no place in Guiding in my opinion.
OP posts:
dworky · 31/10/2021 08:14

They've been royally stonewalled.

BelleOfTheProvince · 31/10/2021 08:15

It's not appropriate because those who normally deliver sex education are trained professionals with a wealth of knowledge and access to robust safeguarding.
It's not appropriate to give an unpaid volunteer that level of responsibility. Recipe for disaster.

PieMistee · 31/10/2021 08:15

I wouldn't have an issue at all with this. My kids are aware of asexuality as my friend is asexual. They knew about homosexuality by the age of 2 so why not asexuality?

NoSquirrels · 31/10/2021 08:15

How on earth do you know that you are ‘asexual’ at 10. Ridiculous. At 10 most kids would be deemed ‘asexual’ - as they should be. Discussion of sex drives etc has no place in Guiding in my opinion.

Guides is not just 10-14 year olds!

At least understand the organisation you’re criticising.

PieMistee · 31/10/2021 08:16

It's hardly sex education, it's like saying only a trained professional can discuss homosexuality.

TheKeatingFive · 31/10/2021 08:16

It's not appropriate to give an unpaid volunteer that level of responsibility. Recipe for disaster.

Are they allowed to talk about the existence of hetero and homosexuality?

Excited101 · 31/10/2021 08:16

How incredibly inappropriate! YADNBU

Lockheart · 31/10/2021 08:17

@MovedByFanciesThatAreCurled many girls will start puberty by age 10, and the majority will have by age 14.

It's not like they're teaching 6 year olds the intricacies of what sex actually means are they? They're just saying "hey, if you're asexual that's cool too".

Hardly the last days of Rome.