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

[MovedByFanciesThatAreCurled]

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?!!

When I went to Brownies I was being sexually abused by a neighbour but because nobody ever talked about sex or sexuality and consent etc it took me four years to tell anyone. Stick your fake concern up your arse

And if you had gone to brownies and guides now , you'd have eventually have been taught that some males are special and you are bigoted if you object to changing amd showering In front of them .

How does that help girls ? Especially girls who have been abused.

Do you think an organisation linked to another organisation who wants to remove the sex by deception clause - ie they don't think trans people should have to tell sexual partners what sex they are before they have sex with them, would be a safe place for girls ?

The whole reason we are objecting to all of this is becuase the people that GG get their training from want safe guarding removed.

We are all,.all fir age appropriate sex education with heavy focus on consent and boundaries. You will not get that from An organisation who believe people are who they say they are, and that anyone who feels uncomfortable is the one who needs to remove themselves from the situation

@changingstages

Did you read the post upthread from the teacher about being trained to look for signs of abuse? And that when kid freaked out and said no way in hell she knew to discuss it further and found out she was being sexually exploited?

I was a victim of csa my whole childhood. Gg tweeting & fb about asexuality never would have made any difference. Consent is discussed al throughout the educational pshe curriculum, from k1, so that makes way more difference to us victims of csa that gg tweeting & fb about yay asexuality.

@Whatwouldscullydo

When I went to Brownies I was being sexually abused by a neighbour but because nobody ever talked about sex or sexuality and consent etc it took me four years to tell anyone. Stick your fake concern up your arse

And if you had gone to brownies and guides now , you'd have eventually have been taught that some males are special and you are bigoted if you object to changing amd showering In front of them .

How does that help girls ? Especially girls who have been abused.

Do you think an organisation linked to another organisation who wants to remove the sex by deception clause - ie they don't think trans people should have to tell sexual partners what sex they are before they have sex with them, would be a safe place for girls ?

The whole reason we are objecting to all of this is becuase the people that GG get their training from want safe guarding removed.

We are all,.all fir age appropriate sex education with heavy focus on consent and boundaries. You will not get that from An organisation who believe people are who they say they are, and that anyone who feels uncomfortable is the one who needs to remove themselves from the situation

Wants to remove single sex exemptions and employs someone who teachings a seminar entitled how to over come the cotton ceiling and redefines homosexuality as same gender attracted.

Lots of safeguarding red flags there.

@Ijustreallywantacat

I was also a part of an LGBT+ youth group when I was 13-17 years old, and surrounded by the gays - I guess my mum needs putting in the stocks for that one!

Depends was it run by people like the lgb alliance? It was it run by stonewall? Because if that latter then yeah she does.

Although to be fair it’s not parents faults organisations are failing at safeguarding.

Oh please DS2 knew his sexuality at 12.

And if course there's the ex board member who's been found to be incompetent but who helped with the " advice ".

Investigated after they hired their dad who was a scout leader , as a campaign manager AFTER he found out he was under investigation for the kidnap and rape and abuse of a 10 yr old girl.

And still actively supports making it easier fir these predators to access children.

The dad since found guilty ajd sentenced ti 2w yrs I think.it was

@Ijustreallywantacat

I am much more worried about the FB post than the tweet (it's NOT just a tweet) as it not surprisingly attracted loads of replies from adult leaders sharing their sexuality where young girls can see (and even if sticking to the rules 13 is young).

And why isn't it ok to share? What's wrong with the 13+ year olds knowing that some of their leaders are gay/bi/lesbian?

You know, when I was 8, my mum's friend came over with their boyfriend. They kissed in front of me and she told me they were gay. Am I supposed to be scarred for life?

Again, the equivalent to saying someone has a boyfriend or girlfriend is to say someone has no partner & doesn’t want one. My bi friend doesn’t introduce her husband with the disclaimer ‘but I’m bisexual’. She just says this is my husband. The equivalent is someone saying their single not announcing their asexuality, that likely will mean kids ask questions and the huge variation on definition here alone are safeguarding risks to kids.

Depends was it run by people like the lgb alliance? It was it run by stonewall? Because if that latter then yeah she does.

It wasn't run by either. It was an independent local organisation. It did acknowledge that transpeople exist though, and I met 2 lovely transpeople while there. I shall go and ring child line now.

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.

At 10 some children will start to have sexual feelings. Also the discussion is not about sex drive, it's about sexual orientation.

@Whatwouldscullydo

When I went to Brownies I was being sexually abused by a neighbour but because nobody ever talked about sex or sexuality and consent etc it took me four years to tell anyone. Stick your fake concern up your arse

And if you had gone to brownies and guides now , you'd have eventually have been taught that some males are special and you are bigoted if you object to changing amd showering In front of them .

How does that help girls ? Especially girls who have been abused.

Do you think an organisation linked to another organisation who wants to remove the sex by deception clause - ie they don't think trans people should have to tell sexual partners what sex they are before they have sex with them, would be a safe place for girls ?

The whole reason we are objecting to all of this is becuase the people that GG get their training from want safe guarding removed.

We are all,.all fir age appropriate sex education with heavy focus on consent and boundaries. You will not get that from An organisation who believe people are who they say they are, and that anyone who feels uncomfortable is the one who needs to remove themselves from the situation

This is AIBU, not the feminism boards, so your wooooooo transphobia stuff doesn't scare me, I'm afraid. My daughter is in Guides and has been through Brownies and I am fully supportive of their policies.

I'm.glad your are fully supportive.

I wonder how your dd will feel staying over night in a tent with a male

@changingstages sorry that happened to you
i was about to make a similar post and catching up with the rest of the thread/deciding whether too 'off topic' when I got to yours.

Again, the equivalent to saying someone has a boyfriend or girlfriend is to say someone has no partner & doesn’t want one. My bi friend doesn’t introduce her husband with the disclaimer ‘but I’m bisexual’. She just says this is my husband. The equivalent is someone saying their single not announcing their asexuality, that likely will mean kids ask questions and the huge variation on definition here alone are safeguarding risks to kids

Right, so it's just the word that bothers you then? Just the word and...kids asking questions? There are many age appropriate ways to answer the questions. Is it because the word 'asexual' has the word 'sex' inside it? Because newsflash, unless they've lived inside a bubble, 13 years will have heard that word before.

Also changingstages, thanks for that! So refreshing. Glad I'm not the only one!

*For pre 14 year olds No It's NOT . Just as it's not necessary for them to 'acknowledge' heterosexuality !

No CHILD needs to bother their heads about sexuality. !! They are kids .*

I think it helps when they start getting sexual feelings after starting puberty. 14 would have been too late for my son.

Thr lack of understanding of safeguarding on this thread is bloody shocking.

Some people see things like this happening at GG and Brownies and cheer about how wonderful everything is with rainbows and glitter, hurray!

Some people see tweets like this and, through either personal or professional experiences, see how this could potentially be exploited by people looking for any weaknesses in organisations. Organisations who place appearing “inclusive on Twitter” at a higher priority than maintaining boundaries for children are those types of organisations.

And it’s evident from this thread and posts by the same people on other threads, there are posters who are more than willing to turn a blind eye to the possibility that there are bad people looking to exploit organisations and communities if pointing it out compromises those communities.

I know which camp I’d rather be in. It’s become very evident to me based on multiple threads on MN over the last 6 months that far too many people don’t understand, or are happy to ignore safeguarding.

@nolongersurprised

Is it because the word 'asexual' has the word 'sex' inside it?

No, it’s because the term is an umbrella term and includes people who have sex with people they have no sexual attraction to.

Fine for adults, if they are comfortable with this. Pretty fucking groomy thing to make a child “aware” of though.

This ^^ with bells on

X post Clymene!

@BloodinGutters you can give enthusiastic consent without feeling sexual attraction.

@nolongersurprised

It’s quite difficult to understand though, isn’t it? Posters on this thread have outlined that lack of sexual desire is ubiquitous BUT some people still get aroused and enjoy sex and are in loving relationships.

Not sexual desire, sexual ATTRACTION. They are not the same thing. I suppose if you have no experience of asexuality it might seem confusing. Education will help thay.

[quote TheOriginalEmu]@BloodinGutters you can give enthusiastic consent without feeling sexual attraction.[/quote]
NO. This is a terrible awful message to be giving children.

What you have just said is a groomers' charter and it's really really disturbing that you refuse to see that

Not sexual desire, sexual ATTRACTION. They are not the same thing.

I suppose if you have no experience of asexuality it might seem confusing. Education will help thay

It’s defined by lack of sexual attraction or desire! And it’s ironic you acknowledge it might seem confusing, but seem to think it’s a reasonable topic for children. How do you explain this to children when you or anyone else can’t convey its meaning adequately to adults?

Explain how you would safely get the meaning of this:

you can give enthusiastic consent without feeling sexual attraction.

to a child aged 12 without leading them to a pathway of confusion.